Member of Parliament for Bawku Central Constituency, Hon. Mahama Ayariga has demanding a response to his complaint about the brutalities and killings of some ten citizens in the Bawku constituency.
This is in fulfillment of his promise to leave no stone unturned in seeking redress for the victims of the Bawku Conflict.
The Bawku Conflict is an ethno-politcial conflict between the Kusasis and the Mamprusis in the Bawku traditional area revolving around the claim for traditional political power in the area between the two ethnic groups. The conflict, which had been ongoing for decades, had eventually resulted in violence and brutalities in the area, leading to the need for the military’s intervention.
It was however alleged that personnel of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) killed some innocent people who were running for cover in Bawku during some disturbances in February. In response to the allegations, the GAF in a statement on February 2, stated that they engaged a group of armed men and neutralised six of them instead.
Earlier in June this year, Mr. Ayariga issued a complaint to the Commission on Human Right & Administration Justice (CHRAJ) demanding for further investigations to be conducted into the killing and violation of human rights by members of the Ghana Armed Forces in the community of Zoogin in Bawku Municipality.
In the MP’s letter addressing the CHRAJ Commissioner on 6th November, 2023, he stated that he will not accept any attempt by the military to avoid accountability for the killings of innocent people in Bawku.
“I will not accept any attempts by the military to avoid accountability for the killing of the innocent people in Bawku.”
“Please rest assured that the people of the Zoogin community will continue to demand justice for those who were unjustly killed by members of the Ghana Armed Forces in their community.”
According to him, the military has refused to provide him with the needed information despite an order from CHRAJ.
He therefore urged the Commissioner to give the military a deadline to respond to his requests and seek justice for the victims.
“I have seen copies of letters your office wrote to the Ghana Armed Forces to respond to my complaints. Since then, I have not heard anything in relation to the matter. I therefore demand that you give the military a deadline to respond to your inquiries. I also expected that CHRAJ would have the community to speak to victims to gather evidence beyond whatever the Ghana Armed Forces would say in their response, but this has not happened.”
Below is Ayariga’s letter to the CHRAJ Commissioner.
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Story by: Michelle Lartey | univers.edu.gh
