The MP for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga is requesting compensation, in the right proportion, for families of persons killed by military personnel in Bawku recently.

According to Mr. Ayariga, the compensation would enable family members cater for the dependants of the deceased.

“If you look at the people, somebody has been killed and he has been survived by three wives, somebody has been killed and has been survived by two wives, somebody has been killed and he had three children. So that is why I say that they must be compensated so that those of us who have to take care of these families, we have the wherewithal to take care of what they have left behind,” he said on JoyNews’ Newsfile, on Saturday.

Although the MP requested an amount of GHC500,000 as compensation for each of the deceased's family in his petition to CHRAJ, he said the human rights agency would have the final say on what values should be placed on the lives of the deceased individuals.

Ten people are alleged to have been killed by some armed military men in an attempt to maintain calm in the wake some sporadic shootings in Bawku. A young boy was burnt to death in the process while he tried hiding near piled up dry grasses which caught fire later.

Inhabitants angrily accused the military of intentionally killing civilians.

Mr. Ayariga, in a press statement condemned the act, saying it is an “infliction of mortal casualties on innocent civilians.” He has promised to “leave no stone unturned” as he fights for redress for the victims.

In a response, the Ghana Armed Forces refuted the allegations, saying that its officers only sought to neutralize some six unidentified armed men who were involved in sporadic shootings in Sabongari, a suburb of Bawku. It said some people who sustained injuries in the process had been sent to the Bawku Presbyterian Hospital for treatment.

However, Mr. Ayariga believes that the people of Bawku are incapable of accusing the military wrongfully, saying that his account on the incident was from an eyewitness. He believes the military is refusing to admit wrongdoing.

Meanwhile, some security analysts believe that in the wake of tensions from Burkina Faso near the northern border, further investigations need to be conducted into the killings of the ten people.