Retired security analyst and former Ghanaian military officer Colonel Festus Aboagye has emphasized that any military deployment to the conflict-ridden town of Bawku and surrounding areas in northern Ghana must adhere strictly to national constitutional provisions and relevant international legal frameworks.
Despite a recent wave of violence—marked by the tragic killings of students—Col. Aboagye has cautioned against reactionary and excessive use of military force, urging instead for lawful and strategically informed interventions.
Speaking on JoyNews’ PM Express on Monday, July 28, Col. Aboagye noted:
“I think we can say that the government is reactionary.”
While acknowledging the deteriorating security situation, he stressed that tactical shifts must not override legal and ethical standards.
“Of course, when tactical situations change, you change approaches. So it’s a matter of course that because of the situation, the dynamics are changing, including the geographical spread, including the nature of the targets, school kids being assassinated in a targeted manner.”
He referenced incidents where military convoys have come under attack, prompting forceful military responses that may exceed lawful boundaries.
Three Students Killed Amid Renewed Tensions
In the last few days, three students have reportedly lost their lives in what many believe to be targeted attacks related to the ongoing Bawku chieftaincy conflict. Two of the victims were from Nalerigu Senior High School in the North East Region, while the third was a final-year student at Bawku Senior High School in the Upper East Region.
These tragic deaths have triggered widespread public outrage, prompting renewed military deployment and stricter curfew measures in the affected areas.
Lawful Frameworks Are Non-Negotiable
While Col. Aboagye agrees that the government should take decisive measures to restore calm, he insists such interventions must be grounded in law.
“It’s appropriate that the government takes appropriate measures. However, I think we all need to understand that there has never been any peacekeeping involved.”
He strongly warned against mislabeling the military operation as a peacekeeping mission, explaining:
“The term peacekeeping is not a global application to all manner of conflicts. Bawku is an inter-ethnic conflict in a democracy.”
Instead, he called for clarity on the legal basis for military involvement.
“The state now needs to find room for the armed forces to deploy—one, within the laws of the country, and two, subject to international law.”
Internal Security vs Conventional Warfare
According to Col. Aboagye, the Bawku situation falls under internal security, not international conflict, and therefore requires a different operational approach.
“What is appropriately happening in Bawku is an internal security issue for which the armed forces are rightly mandated to maintain, establish, or restore peace and stability.”
He further warned against adopting doctrines of force derived from conventional warfare or international peace enforcement strategies.
“We don’t need to necessarily use the term peace enforcement, even if some principles inherent in peace enforcement may apply.”
source: myjoyonline
