Amid ongoing military operations in Bawku, security analyst, Dr Ishmael Norman has raised concerns over the psychological wellbeing of soldiers deployed to enforce peace in the conflict-ridden area.

Speaking on TV3’s KeyPoints programme on Saturday, August 2, 2025, Dr Norman stressed that the emotional and mental health of military personnel should be prioritized equally with that of civilians, especially considering that these soldiers have families anxiously awaiting their return.

“We deploy the soldiers because they are soldiers. But we need to treat them also as human beings... They need help. They need psychological intervention in the field and after the event. We don’t do any of it,” he stated.

The security analyst questioned whether any trained psychologists had been assigned to support troops in Bawku, adding that without proper care, the strain of duty could lead to serious consequences.

“Who is taking care of their wives, their children, their fear?” he quizzed.

Dr Norman warned that a lack of psychological support could cause soldiers to become emotionally overwhelmed, with the risk of them acting out or even turning against the very communities they are meant to protect.

“Before they themselves become weaponized and react in a very negative way to the people they’re there to support and protect, we must do better,” he emphasized.

Despite his concerns, Dr Norman commended the government’s proactive efforts to stabilize the situation in Bawku.

More than 400 security personnel have been deployed under a presidential directive to restore calm.

The Bawku conflict, rooted in decades-old ethnic and chieftaincy tensions, remains one of Ghana’s most complex security challenges.

Authorities argue that restoring order in the Upper East Region is critical to preventing further unrest from spilling into other parts of the country.

SA/EB

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