• The Member for Bawku Central Mahama Ayariga is demanding Ghc 500, 000 compensation for each of the seven (7) constituents killed as a result of alleged military brutalities in Bawku in a petition to the Commission of Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) over what he described as their human right violations.

According to the lawmaker, the fundamental human right to life enshrined as 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 whiles Women’s rights have been violated.

The MP in the petition addressed to the Commissioner noted that the “military have violated every known international human rights protocol governing military intervention in civilian armed conflict”.

He is therefore praying CHRAJ to grand the following remedies as a result:

1. Compensation of Five Hundred Thousand Ghana Cedis (Ghc 500,000.00) for each and every one of those whose lives were taken to be paid to their immediate families as punitive damage.
2. Restraining 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.
3. Adequate compensation to those who have suffered physical harm.

This Complaint is Pursuant to section 7 of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice Act 1993 (Act 456) and article 218 of the Constitution of Ghana 1992.

This Complaint is Dated Friday 3rd February 2023 and made by Mahama Ayariga who is the Member of Parliament for Bawku Central Constituency and is made on behalf of the victims of the military killings and their families.

1. In my capacity as the Member of Parliament for Bawku Central I hereby lodge a complaint on behalf of some residents of Bawku under regulation 2(2)(a) and (b) of C.I. 67 pertaining to several acts of violation of the human rights of some residents of Bawku by members of the Ghana Armed Forces.
2. 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 January and Wednesday 1st February 2023. Children’s rights. Women’s rights and property rights were violated.
3. 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 killings 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.

The petitioner identified and listed all the victims of military killings and brutalities