Minister for Defence, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, has pledged that government will reconstruct the Bawku Naba statue following its recent destruction—an act he described as deeply troubling and unacceptable.
The symbolic monument, which holds immense traditional and cultural significance for the people of Bawku, was reportedly vandalized over the weekend, prompting widespread outrage.
Dr. Boamah made the announcement in a Facebook post on Thursday, July 17, shortly after engaging officers and civilian staff at an All Ranks durbar held at Burma Camp.
“I condemned the destruction of the cherished statue in Bawku over the weekend and assured that the government shall rebuild the statue and expects appropriate sanctions to be meted out to the perpetrators. I further decried the shooting of the two soldiers in Bawku,” he stated.
In addition to the statue’s defacement, the Defence Minister condemned the shooting of two soldiers in Bawku and urged military leadership to swiftly address ongoing concerns, including the unauthorized use of military personnel for private security purposes.
Meanwhile, tensions remain high in Bawku. Reports indicate that the incident which led to the destruction of the statue also resulted in the deaths of six civilians, injuries to dozens, and significant property damage.
Allegations have surfaced from some Members of Parliament, accusing sections of the military of ethnic bias and targeting innocent Kusasi civilians during a response operation.
