Ghana’s military has denied claims that its personnel were behind the killing of at least 10 civilians in the town of Bawku, in the north of the country, close to the border with Burkina Faso.
The civilians were killed in separate incidents and Mahama Ayariga, MP for Bawku Central, condemned the incidents. He accused the military of being behind the deaths and called for an immediate investigation.
Eyewitnesses told the BBC that they saw armed men in military uniform chasing and shooting at civilians on Wednesday. They added that in the Missiga district of Bawku alone, eight people were killed including a 12-year-old boy who was burnt to death in a grain silo. He had run to hide there during the attack.
The military high command had earlier issued a statement warning people to desist from wearing military uniforms. They indicated they had arrested one person for re-spraying a vehicle in military colours in Bawku over a month ago.
The ethnic tensions in the town and threats from jihadists operating in Burkina Faso have prompted a heavy military presence in the area.
The Bawku township is currently under curfew.