Member of Parliament for Bawku Central Constituency, Mahama Ayariga, has petitioned the Commission On Human Rights And Administration Justice (CHRAJ) to look into the reported killings and brutalities of his constituents by officers of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF).

Per reports, about 10 people were shot dead by members of the armed forces Operation Gongong in Bawku on Tuesday 31st January and Wednesday 1st February 2023.

According to Mr Ayariga, several human rights such as children’s rights, women’s rights and property rights have been violated by the military.

In his complaint, the legislator stated that "the military do not deny shooting and killing these residents of Bawku".

In a statement issued on 2nd February 2023, the Ghana Armed Forces refuted allegations that soldiers deployed to Bawku to restore calm and maintain order had killed some residents.

The military explained that passengers on board a yellow KIA Grand Bird Bus with Registration Number AS 3672-21 travelling from Accra to Missiga were attacked by unknown gunmen around Kpawelga on the Bawku Highways. The gunmen fired through the tyre and engine compartment of the vehicle.

"Also, one KIA Rhino truck with registration number AS 7093-17 was hit and the driver of the truck, Alhassan Abdella aged 40, from the Gonja tribe sustained a gunshot wound on the left foot.

"Again, on Wednesday 1 February 2023, gunshots were heard around South Natinga in Bawku. A Patrol Team rushed to the general area of the shooting where a suspect, Abdul Malik Haruna, aged 35 from the Mamprusi tribe was arrested.

"Three suspects, Fatau Alhassan Binda, aged 42, Abubakar Iddrisu, aged 44 and Alhassan Mustapha Binda, aged 33, all from the Dagomba tribe were arrested in a house at Pateleme. They were handed over to the Bawku Police for further investigations.

"In a separate incident, sporadic firing was heard around Sabongari General Area. A Patrol Team dispatched to assess the situation spotted unknown armed men at Gozesi-Valley side in Sabongari wearing black T-shirts with Black Hoodies. Troops engaged them and neutralized six (6) armed men. During the engagement, some armed men took cover in a mud house within the immediate vicinity to engage the Team.

"One of the armed men attempted to attack troops with a cutlass but was disarmed in the process. During the operation. a local woman found with a gunshot injury on her left hand was sent to Bawku Presbyterian Hospital by troops for treatment," GAF's statement recounted.

In response, Mr Ayariga has rejected what he describes as "the self serving coverup account of the circumstances surrounding the brutal killings contained in the statement of the Ghana Armed Forces engaged in Operation Gongong" and has therefore called for an investigation by the CHRAJ so that eyewitnesses can give an accurate account of the brutality with which the military executed the killings.

"The incidents occurred on the 1st of February 2023. An earlier killing of 2 persons in Patelmi in Bawku by members of the Ghana Armed Forces occurred on 26th of January 2023," he revealed.

Meanwhile, Mr Ayariga has among other things demanded a compensation of Five Hundred Thousand Ghana Cedis (Ghc 500,000.00) for each and every one of those whose lives were taken to be paid to their immediate families as punitive damage.

He also wants members of the Ghana Armed Forces to be restrained from further acts of brutalities in Bawku in the exercise of their responsibilities to maintain peace in Bawku.

Again, the Bawku Central MP wants adequate compensation to those who have suffered physical harm.

Chraj-1 by The Independent Ghana on Scribd

Source: The Independent Ghana