Following the frequent shooting of police officers in troubled Bawku enclave in the Upper East Region, the Ghana Police Service has begun withdrawing personnel from area, ceding control of several police stations to the military.
The withdrawal, which affects police officers stationed in Binduri, Pusiga, and Garu, comes in response to an intensifying wave of targeted attacks against security personnel and their families.
Military forces have now been deployed to assume direct control of the affected police installations, while officers in Bawku township remain under military protection.
Sources within the security apparatus describe the move as both tactical and urgent, aimed at protecting police lives amid mounting threats from unknown assailants.
A leaked internal police communication, marked “URGENT,” issued by ACPOL J.W. Barison on behalf of the Upper East Regional Commander, paints a stark picture of the deteriorating situation.
It outlines a comprehensive ban on the movement of all police personnel, including their families, into Bawku, Pusiga, and Binduri, citing credible intelligence that security officers have become deliberate targets.
“The Police Administration has observed dangerous development in Bawku and its environs. Personnel and their families have become targets… INGPOL (IGP) directs ban on personnel traveling to Bawku with immediate effect,” the directive warned.
Personnel deployed to the region have been instructed to wear full protective gear and ensure armored escort for all operations.
Though not explicitly mentioned, Garu has also been flagged as potentially hazardous, prompting officers to take additional precautions.
The IGP, Christian Tetteh Yohuno recently came under attack when militants opened fire on him when he visited Bawku for on the spot assessment of the security situation.
Background
This latest escalation follows a deadly ambush on two police officers in Binduri, which left both men dead.
The officers, part of a peacekeeping force, were reportedly gunned down by assailants linked to the Kusasi faction of the long-running chieftaincy dispute with the Mamprusi ethnic group.
The attack occurred shortly after the brutal murder and immolation of a Mamprusi man in the same district.
The Binduri killings came just 24 hours after Inspector-General of Police, Tetteh Yohuno, visited Bawku in an effort to calm tensions.
During the visit, the IGP made a rare public apology to the Kusasi leadership, acknowledging allegations of police misconduct lodged by the Kusaug Youth Association.
His conciliatory gesture, however, did little to stem the tide of violence, as security personnel continue to be targeted.
Government Reluctance Draws Criticism
Despite clear indicators of a deepening crisis, the Upper East Regional Minister, Donatus Akamugri Atanga, has rejected calls for a formal declaration of a state of emergency in the region.
Speaking to the media, he dismissed the need for such a measure, insisting the violence is sporadic and manageable.
“It is not like sporadic where every day they are fighting each other. It is an instance that sparks up issues and it is brought under control,” he asserted.
His comments have drawn sharp criticism from security analysts and local leaders who argue that the situation has already spiralled into a national emergency.
They contend that the targeted killings of police officers and the attack on the residence of Bawku Central MP, Mahama Ayariga—allegedly torched during recent clashes—are signs of a region slipping beyond the reach of state control.
In response to the latest killings, the Mamprugu Youth Association (MAYA) issued a strongly worded statement condemning the attacks and calling for urgent government intervention.
They urged the re-imposition of the motorbike ban and enhanced surveillance in volatile areas.
MAYA also appealed to Binduri’s Member of Parliament, Mahmoud Issifu, to actively defend the interests of his constituents amid the rising insecurity.
High-Level Security Talks Underway
Amid growing concern, the Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS), Major General William Agyapong, and IGP Christian Tetteh Yohuno held a high-level meeting in Accra on April 14 to discuss the worsening security in Bawku.
