Members of Parliament from the Kusaug area in Ghana’s Upper East Region have issued a strong condemnation of the Ghana Armed Forces following a violent military operation in Bawku on Sunday, July 13, 2025, which allegedly left six civilians dead, several others injured, and property destroyed.
Addressing journalists at Parliament House, the MPs, led by Tempane MP Lydia Lamisi Akanvariba, described the operation as an “ethnically charged and indiscriminate assault” on the Kusasi community. The lawmakers claim the military’s response to an earlier gun attack on their convoy turned into a reprisal that unjustly targeted civilians.
According to the group, not only did the soldiers raid and loot shops, but they also desecrated cultural symbols, including pulling down and burning a statue of Zugraan Asigri Abugrago Azoka II, the overlord of the Kusaug Traditional Area.
“Such conduct by state security forces is deeply offensive, excessive, and undermines efforts at peacebuilding,” Madam Akanvariba said. “We grieve for the lives lost, and we are outraged by the blatant disrespect to the people of Kusaug.”
While expressing empathy for two soldiers injured in the initial attack, the MPs insisted that retaliation through violence and destruction of property was unjustified.
They accused the military of a recurring pattern of impunity and called the July 13 events a continuation of unaddressed human rights violations in the area. “We can no longer remain silent in the face of such targeted brutality,” she declared.
The MPs presented a six-point demand to the government and military high command, which includes:
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A formal apology to the Zugraan and the Kusaug people.
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Prosecution of soldiers involved in the July 13 incident.
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An immediate overhaul of military and security personnel in Bawku.
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Compensation for bereaved families and victims of property loss.
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Reconstruction of the destroyed statue of the Zugraan.
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A shift toward intelligence-led operations, rather than reliance on brute force.
“The Ghana Armed Forces must adopt modern, intelligence-based strategies—not the old, heavy-handed methods that worsen community tensions,” Madam Akanvariba stressed.
She also called on the youth of Kusaug to remain calm and avoid retaliatory actions. “We share your pain and your outrage, but we must not descend into chaos,” she urged.
The MPs reaffirmed their commitment to working with national authorities to seek justice and accountability and expressed strong support for the mediation efforts led by the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.
They urged the revered king to fast-track his interventions to de-escalate the situation. “We believe his voice carries the moral weight necessary to restore calm and dignity to our people,” Madam Akanvariba concluded.
