Defence Minister, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, has assured the people of Bawku that the government will restore the Bawku Naba statue, which was destroyed over the weekend.
Describing the act as “regrettable and unacceptable,” the Minister said steps are already being taken to rebuild the monument, which holds significant traditional and symbolic value for the community.
“I condemned the destruction of the cherished statue in Bawku over the weekend,” Dr. Boamah stated in a Facebook post on Thursday, July 17, 2025, after addressing a durbar at Burma Camp.
“I assured that the government shall rebuild the statue and expects appropriate sanctions to be meted out to the perpetrators.”
He disclosed that the Defense Ministry is closely monitoring the situation and will support security operations to ensure peace and accountability in the area.
The Minister also condemned the recent shooting of two soldiers in Bawku, describing the incident as a disturbing escalation that demands swift justice.
“The Ghana Armed Forces remain committed to protecting lives and maintaining order in every part of the country,” Dr. Boamah affirmed.
He called for strong collaboration between the military, traditional authorities, and residents to restore calm and uphold dignity.
“Let us unite to uphold peace, protect tradition, and strengthen the bonds that hold our nation together,” he added.
However, Executives of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Kusaug Traditional Area have described the recent destruction of the Bawku Naba’s statue as a deliberate and provocative act, warning that it amounts to a declaration of war against the people of Kusaug.
The incident occurred on July 13, 2025, during what the party claims was a coordinated assault backed by military escorts.
At a press conference on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, the executives expressed deep alarm over what they consider the state’s complicity in the violence.
“This government has not only failed to protect our people but has desecrated the image of our revered overlord, His Royal Majesty Zugraan Bawku Naba, by setting ablaze his statue—an act that is provocative and amounts to a declaration of war,” they stated.
The group criticised the government’s response to the longstanding Bawku chieftaincy dispute, describing it as weak and misguided.
“Instead of taking bold and lawful measures to resolve the chieftaincy issue, the government has outsourced responsibility to the Asantehene while perpetrators of violence walk free,” they said.
The executives warned that the continued tolerance of such acts would only deepen mistrust.
“This crisis has fuelled the growing perception that the government has chosen political expedience over justice,” they added.
