Ghana has deployed soldiers to the conflict-ridden town of Bawku, located near its northern border with Burkina Faso, following the tragic killing of three students by unidentified gunmen over the weekend.
Saturday’s lethal shooting has ignited renewed anxieties regarding escalating violence within the northern town, which unfortunately remains gripped by a long-standing chieftaincy dispute.
The recent incidents also heighten concerns about a potential spillover from ongoing jihadist conflicts emanating from the turbulent Sahel region into Ghanaian territory.
“The Government of Ghana is significantly stepping up its approach from mere peacekeeping to active peace enforcement in Bawku and other affected areas,” stated Felix Kwakye Ofosu, Ghana’s Communications Minister and presidential spokesman, on Sunday.
This intensified measure comes in response to the recent escalation of violence, which authorities fear could dangerously derail the delicate peacebuilding processes already underway.
The government’s statement follows disturbing reports that three students were fatally ambushed near a school, as described by eyewitness residents.
Officials have officially confirmed an ongoing comprehensive security operation specifically designed to protect educational institutions across the affected area.
Consequently, a strict 2 pm to 6 am (1400 to 0600 GMT) curfew has been imposed throughout the town and its surrounding regions to facilitate the safe evacuation of vulnerable students.
Minister Ofosu reassured the concerned public that the Ghana Armed Forces will diligently undertake all necessary measures to effectively safeguard both lives and precious property.
He also strongly urged all involved parties to immediately refrain from further violence and actively support the crucial peace process.
The persistent Bawku crisis fundamentally stems from a decades-long dispute concerning which particular ethnic group possesses the legitimate right to occupy the paramount chieftaincy seat.
This enduring conflict primarily involves bitter contention between the Mamprusi and Kusasi ethnic communities within the region.
Ghana previously dispatched an additional 1,000 troops and police personnel to Bawku in 2023 to significantly reinforce security after gunmen tragically killed an immigration officer and wounded two others close to the volatile Burkina Faso border.
Bawku’s proximity to Burkina Faso makes it particularly vulnerable, where Islamist militants have displaced millions and generated numerous cross-border security concerns for Ghana.
In recent months, the Ghanaian army has markedly stepped up its vigilant patrols along the northern frontier, aiming to robustly stave off any potential spillovers from the Sahel’s various destabilizing conflicts into national territory.