Bawku Conflict: Nat’l Security Ministry Schools Ayariga on the Price of Peace

The Ministry of National Security has publicly cautioned Mahama Ayariga, Member of Parliament for Bawku Central Constituency, to stop playing partisan politics of mischief with the Bawku conflict and the genuine efforts by Government to restore and maintain peace in the area.

The Ministry further urged Mr. Ayariga to stop making propagandist statements that have the potential to disinform and misinform the citizens of Bawku, reignite tensions and endanger the lives of state security personnel and Intelligence agencies detailed to that area to maintain peace.

The caution, contained in a press statement issued by the Ministry and dated Tuesday August 6, 2024, said it is “unfortunate and mistaken for Hon. Ayariga, who, given his position as a Member of Parliament, ought to be better informed about the complexities and necessities of national security operations, to politicize same.”

The statement was in response to an allegation by Mr. Ayariga that the insecurity in Bawku is largely created by the New Patriotic Party and “the National Security Minister takes GHS18 million quarterly in name of dealing with the Bawku conflict which means that every month National Security Minister takes GHS6 million in the name of he dealing with the Bawku security problem while the people are struggling in poverty.”

The statement from the National Security Ministry reads in full:

The Ministry of National Security has noted a recent statement by Hon. Mahama Ayariga, NDC Member of Parliament for Bawku Central Constituency, challenging the justification for the Ministry’s monthly budget of Gh¢ 6,000,000 allocated to address the Bawku conflict.

The Ministry wishes to emphasise that it is responsible for designing and coordinating security operations nationwide in collaboration with relevant security and intelligence agencies.

In response to the sharp and troubling escalation of the inter-ethnic tensions in Bawku in 2021, which led to the tragic loss of hundreds of innocent lives, including women and children, displacement of people, and disruption of economic activities, the Ministry, as a matter of urgency, established a special operation in February 2023 to maintain peace in Bawku and its environs, as well as other areas in the North East Region affected and impacted by the conflict.

A budget allocation of Gh¢ 6,000,000 per month was made to support these operations, which included a Special Task Force. These funds cover essential operational costs, such as fuel supplies for Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) and other operational vehicles; the provision and delivery of food rations for personnel of the Task Force; special intelligence operations, and other civil-military activities aimed at building societal cohesion and stability in Bawku.

In line with the coordination and operational strategy for the management of the conflict, the Ministry, upon receipt of the funds, distributes same to the participating security and intelligence agencies to support their logistics and personnel involved in the operations, with the core mandate of protecting the lives and livelihoods of all citizens in the area.

We must emphasise further that these funds are part of the general operational budget for the Ministry. The Ministry is, however, compelled to allocate these amounts to maintain peace in Bawku, when they could have been invested, instead, in enhancing Ghana’s capability to build resilience against the dire security threats such as terrorism and violent extremism spreading across the West African region.

It is, therefore, unfortunate and mistaken for Hon. Ayariga, who, given his position as a Member of Parliament, ought to be better informed about the complexities and necessities of national security operations, to politicize same.

Such statements have the potential to disinform and misinform the citizens of Bawku, reignite tensions, and endanger the lives of the personnel of state security and Intelligence agencies involved in the operations, and should, therefore, not be encouraged by well-meaning Ghanaians.

The Ministry of National Security remains committed to its mandate and duty to sustain its operations in Bawku, to safeguard the overall peace and stability of the country.