The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) have firmly denied reports alleging that the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Major General Lawrence Kwaku Gbetanu, was attacked during his recent visit to Bawku in the Upper East Region.
Widespread rumours surfaced on Thursday, with some even falsely claiming that the Army Chief had been killed. In response, the GAF issued a statement clarifying that no such incident occurred and that the operational visit to Bawku on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, was both peaceful and successful.
Major General Gbetanu had visited Bawku to assess the security situation, engage with local military personnel, and reaffirm the commitment of the GAF and other security agencies to restoring peace in the region. Speaking during the visit, he stated, “The GAF and other agencies have been managing the crisis over the years in Bawku, which has persisted between two contending sides, and will continue to do so to bring lasting peace to the area for the benefit of the people.”
Amidst the circulation of viral videos spreading the false claims, the GAF issued an official statement signed by Brigadier General E. Aggrey-Quashie, Director General of Public Relations, condemning the misinformation.
“GAF wishes to state that the contents of the said videos are false and should be treated with the contempt they deserve. COAS’ operational visit to Bawku on Wednesday, 23 April 2025 was successful and no negative incident was recorded,” the statement read.
The Armed Forces also revealed that efforts are underway to identify and bring to justice the individuals responsible for the misleading videos.
Furthermore, the GAF cautioned bloggers, content creators, and media outlets to exercise responsibility and accuracy in their reportage, especially concerning military operations in sensitive areas like Bawku, warning that the spread of falsehoods could aggravate an already fragile security situation.
The GAF concluded by calling on all stakeholders to contribute to ongoing efforts aimed at restoring peace and normalcy to Bawku and its surroundings.
