The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has announced plans to implement a full-scale peace enforcement operation in Bawku and its surrounding areas, vowing to use “all necessary force” to restore calm amid escalating violence in the Upper East Region.

In a strongly worded statement issued on Monday, July 28, GAF said the move follows a spate of targeted killings, including recent attacks that claimed the lives of three students in separate incidents linked to the long-standing Bawku conflict.

“The Ghana Armed Forces wishes to assure the public that we remain fully committed to restoring peace and stability in Bawku. All necessary force permitted by law will be applied to deal decisively with armed elements threatening national security,” the statement read.

According to GAF, the renewed mandate signals a transition from mere peacekeeping to active peace enforcement, allowing troops to take more assertive measures against armed groups believed to be fueling the violence.

Military convoys have already intensified patrols in the Bawku municipality, while additional troops have been deployed to critical flashpoints to prevent further attacks. Authorities have also imposed tighter curfew restrictions and warned civilians against aiding armed factions.

The latest surge in violence has heightened public anxiety, with residents and civil society groups calling for urgent action to protect lives and property. The Bawku crisis, which stems from decades-old chieftaincy disputes, has repeatedly erupted into deadly clashes despite multiple peace initiatives.

GAF has urged the cooperation of community leaders and residents, stressing that anyone found collaborating with armed factions will be treated as an enemy of the state.

“The Armed Forces will not relent in its duty to maintain peace. Those who take up arms against the state will be met with the full force of the law,” the statement concluded.

Source: TheDotNews