Albert Kan Dapaah, the Minister of National Security, condemned the attack carried out by certain military officers on the people of Garu and Tempane in the Upper East Region.

One person was killed and nearly fifty others were hospitalized in the attack, which was purportedly retaliation for an alleged attack on national security personnel by Garu people.

Mr. Kan Dapaah briefed Parliament on the matter, stating that the court is now considering the claimed military excesses.

“The house will agree that the attack on the national security personnel and also the Garu Police Station was reprehensible and must be condemned in no uncertain terms,” he said. “In many other jurisdictions such attacks on security personnel in the course of their legitimate duties will be classified as an attack on the state.”

Mr. Kan Dapaah went on to state that the Ghana Armed Forces and the Ministry of National Security together carried out an operation in Garu on Saturday, October 28, 2023, to capture firearms that angry youth groups were using to attack National Security officials.

“Mr Speaker, in the aftermath of the joint operation, reports have emerged in respect of some excesses by the personnel who conducted the operation,” he said. “Mr Speaker this aspect of the matter is currently before court, it will therefore be inappropriate for me to comment on the matter as it would amount to contempt of court. That said, however, I would like to urge honourable members of the house to please exercise retrospection in discussing the matter for some three reasons.”

“First because of the dire security situation we are confronted with in Bawku as a result of the existing ethnic conflict in that area,” he explained. “Second because of the counter-terrorism operations going on the area. And third because of the need not to demotivate and demoralise our state security personnel.”