🇬🇭 Ghana Deploys Troops to Burkina Faso Border After Student Killings

Accra, July 28, 2025 — The Ghanaian government has dispatched additional troops to its northeastern border with Burkina Faso following a wave of violence tied to the long-standing Bawku chieftaincy dispute, including recent attacks that claimed the lives of a Kusaasi chief and three high school students. In response, authorities have also imposed a curfew from 14:00 GMT to 06:00 GMT to help restore calm and facilitate student evacuations. This information was confirmed by a spokesperson for President John Dramani Mahama. 


🔍 Background: The Bawku Chieftaincy Conflict

The Bawku conflict—rooted in decades-long competition between the Mamprusi and Kusaasi ethnic groups over the appointment of a local chief—has frequently flared into violence. Despite mediation efforts by figures like the Asantehene (Otumfuo Osei Tutu II), the situation has escalated in recent months. 


📌 Recent Trigger: Attacks on Students

The deployment comes on the heels of a disturbing surge in violence, with gunmen targeting communities in the area, killing a traditional chief and three high school students. These specific incidents prompted decisive military intervention. 


🪖 Current Security Response

  1. Troop Deployment: Additional soldiers have been sent to reinforce security in the affected northeastern region.
  2. Curfew: A strict curfew has been implemented from early afternoon into dawn to curb unrest and manage evacuations.
  3. Evacuations: The curfew aims to support safe movement of students away from risk zones.


🌍 Regional Stakes: Border Tensions and Jihadist Threats

While this crisis originates in local ethnic politics, its location along the Burkina Faso border raises broader security concerns. Past incidents—including jihadist attacks that have claimed lives in neighboring Benin and Burkina—underscore the danger posed by porous borders and regional instability.

In recent years, Ghana has taken measures to safeguard its northern frontier against encroaching militant groups and criminal networks exploiting local unrest.

🧭 Forward Path: What’s Next?

  1. Continued Security Enforcement: Ghana is expected to maintain its heightened troop presence to deter further violence.
  2. Diplomatic Engagement: Strengthened collaboration with Burkina Faso may help contain cross-border spillover.
  3. Community Protection: Evacuations, heightened schooling protocols, and broader civilian support measures will remain vital.



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