Government Must Invest in Intelligence to Resolve Bawku Crisis – Col Festus Aboagye

Retired military officer and security analyst, Col Festus Aboagye, has urged the government to increase investment in intelligence gathering and surveillance technologies as a more effective approach to resolving the long-running conflict in Bawku.

Speaking on The Citi Breakfast Show with Bernard Avle on Wednesday, July 30, 2025, Col Aboagye emphasized the importance of deploying both human intelligence operatives and advanced tech-based surveillance to track and dismantle the networks fueling the unrest.

“I strongly recommend that the government prioritize intelligence operations to address the Bawku conflict,” he said, pointing to individuals he described as “spoilers” who are intentionally sabotaging peace efforts.

He argued that the continued instability in the area is not accidental but is being driven by known actors intent on sustaining the violence. According to him, Ghana’s national security apparatus is already aware of some of these figures—including financiers and influential individuals—who must be strategically targeted and neutralized.

“We know who the warlords are, and I believe National Security has intelligence on individuals backing the crisis—either financially or through influence. These actors should be neutralized using both human and technological tools,” he stressed.

Col Aboagye acknowledged the risk of collateral damage during such operations, warning that innocent people might be mistakenly affected, especially in sensitive areas such as schools.

“For example, you might have a case where someone mistakenly abducts two students, assuming they’re part of a rival group, only to find they’re neither Kusasi nor Mamprusi,” he cautioned.

His remarks follow a recent escalation in military operations in Bawku, where the Ghana Armed Forces has shifted from peacekeeping to peace enforcement, deploying an additional 400 troops to restore order.