The Member of Parliament for Zebilla, Hon. Ebenezer Alhassan Ndebilla, has issued a strong condemnation of what he described as unprofessional and brutal conduct by military personnel deployed in the Bawku area, calling for their immediate withdrawal and replacement.
Addressing a press conference in Accra, the MP expressed grave concern over recent incidents involving military brutality in Zebilla and other parts of the Kusaug Traditional Area, including Binduri, Bawku Central, Pusiga, Garu, and Tempane.
According to Hon. Ndebilla, on a recent military escort mission from Bolgatanga to Bawku, soldiers blocked access roads in Zebilla township—specifically around the market centre and hospital junctions—and physically assaulted civilians who came near the barricades.
“This cannot be accepted in the 21st century when our laws guarantee human dignity and respect for all persons,” he stated.
He further alleged that similar actions took place in Bawku, where soldiers fired live rounds during a confrontation with youth, resulting in multiple injuries and fatalities.
The MP also accused the military of committing sacrilege by destroying the revered statue of Zug-raan the symbolic figure and overlord of the Kusaug people. He claimed the statue was repeatedly shot at, pulled down, and set ablaze by soldiers.
“The military’s actions suggest they are not here for peacekeeping. Rather, they have become a threat to the very people they were sent to protect,” Hon. Ndebilla lamented. “It is now clear that the safety of our overlord cannot be guaranteed under the current military presence.”
He called on the Minister for Defence and the National Security Minister to urgently withdraw all current military personnel from Bawku and replace them with a new contingent. He also demanded a full investigation into the destruction of the Zug-raan statue and immediate reconstruction by the Ghana Armed Forces.
Highlighting a series of fatal road accidents involving military convoys, Hon. Ndebilla criticized the reckless manner in which the military conducts its armed escorts—often using four armoured vehicles to block roads and endanger other road users, particularly motorcyclists, who make up the majority of commuters in the area.
“On February 2, 2025, an armoured vehicle crashed in Saka, killing two soldiers and injuring five others. Similar incidents in Bazua and Zebilla have claimed both military and civilian lives,” he revealed.
The MP emphasized that the people of Kusaug are living in fear, and that the military’s methods of operation have contributed to rising insecurity and public distrust.
“As representatives of the people, we must be concerned about every life lost. The military’s escort strategy must be halted immediately. You cannot endanger others in the name of protecting a few. Our people’s lives matter too.”
Hon. Ndebilla concluded his remarks by reiterating the Kusaug community’s demand for accountability and justice, and called for national attention to the plight of his constituents.
“We are not pleading, we are demanding action, as law-abiding citizens and taxpayers. The Kusaug people deserve peace, not persecution.”
Source: Felix Nyaaba/expressnewsghana.com