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IGP heads to Bawku after recent clash claimed a life, injured 5 and destroyed police accommodation
IGP heads to Bawku after recent clash claimed a life, injured 5 and destroyed police accommodation
By: Abigail | 2 mins read
Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Mr. Christian Tetteh Yohuno on Thursday, April 10, led a senior team of operations, investigations, and intelligence officers to Bawku in the Upper East Region following a violent incident in the area.
There was a clash involving some youth of the town and the Police on Wednesday. One person, Fuseini Iddrisu, unfortunately lost his life during the incident.
Five other persons, including one Police officer and one Immigration officer sustained gunshot injuries and are on admission receiving medical attention, the Police noted in a statement.
Some properties belonging to the police including two vehicles and a rented police accommodation at Binduri as well as houses of some of the Police officers were damaged.
The visit forms part of efforts by the Ghana Police Service to obtain firsthand information on the situation and to evaluate the current security dynamics on the ground.
The delegation’s mission is to reinforce the ongoing collaboration between the Ghana Police Service and the Ghana Armed Forces in stabilizing Bawku and its surrounding communities.
Meanwhile, the Police Service has assured residents that all necessary security arrangements are being intensified to protect lives and property while working toward a lasting resolution to the tensions in the area.
Authorities have urged the public to remain calm and cooperate with security personnel as operations continue to restore normalcy.
The Bawku conflict is a long-standing ethnic and chieftaincy dispute between the Mamprusi and Kusasi groups in Ghana's Upper East Region. Its roots trace back to colonial policies that favored Mamprusi chiefs for the Bawku skin, a traditional leadership position.
After Ghana's independence in 1957, the Kusasi began asserting claims to the skin, citing demographic majority and political support. This struggle has led to cycles of violence but peace and calm was restored for some months. However, in recent years, the conflict has escalated, with sporadic clashes and targeted attacks.
The escalation which started in January 2025 was triggered by the return of Alhaji Seidu Abagre, a parallel chief installed by the Nayiri in Nalerigu in 2022. After being forced into exile due to an arrest warrant, he returned to Bawku in November 2024 following the warrant's dismissal by a High Court in Kumasi.
His return reignited tensions between the Mamprusi and Kusasi factions, triggered by a dispute over chieftaincy legitimacy during a traditional festival. Following this, there have been cases of gunmen attacking travellers and settling ablaze their buses sometimes with passengers on board among other violent attacks.
The recent death recorded raises the death toll to over 30, including civilians, security personnel, and others caught in crossfire.
