The Member of Parliament for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga has lodged a complaint at the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice(CHRAJ) over the violation of human rights of some residents of Bawku by the Ghana Armed Forces.
According to the MP, among the rights violated included the sacred right to life of 10 citizens of Bawku who were shot to death by members of the armed forces engaged in Operation Gongong in Bawku on Tuesday 31st Jan. and Wednesday 1st Feb. 2023.
The legal practitioner cum legislator in his petition noted that “The military do not deny shooting and killing these residents of Bawku. A statement issued by the military authorities on 2nd February 2023 admitting responsibility for the killing is attached.”
“I reject 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 hereby call 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. Deceased was shot and killed by men In military uniform in front of his house,” he stressed in the complaint.
He stated that from the forgoing accounts the fundamental human right to life enshrined in article 13 of the Constitution of Ghana has been violated in relation to each of the deceased. Children’s rights under article 28 have been violated. Property rights have equally been violated. Women’s rights have been violated.
Mahama Ayariga added that the military have violated every known international human rights protocol governing military intervention in civilian armed conflict.
Consequently, he’s seeking compensation of GHC500,000.00 for each and every
one of those whose lives were taken to be paid to their immediate families as punitive damage.
The lawmaker is also asking CHRAJ to restrain the members of the Ghana Armed Forces from further acts of brutalities in Bawku in the exercise of their responsibilities to maintain peace in Bawku.
He’s also seeking adequate compensation to those who have suffered physical harm.
Reports say at least 10 residents were killed on Wednesday February 1, 2023 with the military accused of being the perpetrators.
But the Ghana Armed Forces in a statement “categorically states that these allegations are false and unfounded.”
But added that it only neutralized six armed men in an engagement.
Source: Kasapafmonline.com