President Mahama Condemns Recent Killing of GAF Officer and Military Brutalities in Bawku
President John Dramani Mahama has condemned the recent killing of a military officer in Bawku in the Upper East region.
Addressing the people of the region in Bolgatanga on Thursday when he was on his Thank You Tour, the president described the killing of the soldier as unacceptable, saying the members of the Ghana Armed Forces were there to keep the peace of the area and should not become targets.
“I wish to take this opportunity to condemn the killing of a member of the Ghana army recently in Bawku. The members of the Ghana Armed Forces in the conflict zones are peacekeepers who have been sent there to protect life, limb, and property. It is unacceptable for them to become targets of a conflict to which they are not a party,” President Mahama said.
He also condemned the brutalization of civilians by the military in response to the killing of their colleague.
“I, in the same vein, wish to condemn the high-handed response of our men in uniform, which resulted in assaults and injuries to many innocent civilians. I can understand the righteous anger at the loss of a colleague serviceman, but we must excite restraint and use effective intelligence gathering to identify and bring the culprits to book,” he said.
View this post: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BSkNGDYtp/
President John Mahama also appealed to parties in the ongoing chieftaincy dispute in Bawku to cooperate with the Asantehene Otumfour Osei Tutu II, who is currently mediating the peace process.
“We must commit to living above the slights and injuries of yesterday if we will seize the opportunities and promises of tomorrow. Peace can and peace must reign in Bawku and surrounding areas.”
“I called on His Majesty Otumfo Osei Tutu II yesterday to thank him for the commencement of his mediation efforts to find a peaceful resolution of the conflict in Bawku. It is my hope that all parties to the conflict who took part in the mediation process in Menhyia last week will consider the proposals with an open mind and return in good faith to the negotiations when they resume in two weeks’ time,” President Mahama appealed.