Military Excesses May Derail Peace Efforts in Upper East Ghana: Religious Leaders

They said that the brutalities perpetrated by the soldiers “have the grave potential of defeating the much-needed collaboration and mutual trust between the security personnel and the citizenry in dealing with the violent extremism that is knocking on our borders.”

One person was killed and at least 200 others injured during the military operation.

On November 8, youth in Garu and Tempane held peaceful protests demanding justice for the victims of the brutalities. 

In their statement, the religious leaders have appealed to the Ghanaian government to initiate an independent investigation into the incidents involving the National Intelligence personnel and the youth of Garu, on the one hand, and the military and the youth on the other.

“We also call on the Government, as a matter of urgency, to take the necessary steps to ensure that those who were injured in the incidents receive the needed medical attention and to guarantee the safety of those who have been arrested,” they say. 

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The religious leaders also call on the Ministry of National Security and the Ghana Armed Forces to ensure that their approach to restoring security and peace in the region “has more professional touch and not the use of brutal force so that in the course of their work the dignity of the human person is always respected.” 

Magdalene Kahiu is a Kenyan journalist with passion in Church communication. She holds a Degree in Social Communications from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA). Currently, she works as a journalist for ACI Africa.