An angry mob in the Saawie community in the Upper West Region has brutally attacked a group of five police officers who were performing their official duties on Friday, December 5. The group also seized AK-47 rifles and one magazine belonging to the officers. In response to the incident, nine suspects have been arrested after the Upper West Regional Police Command deployed additional reinforcements.

The unfortunate incident occurred after a team from the Jirapa Municipal Police Command stormed the area to investigate long-standing tensions in the community. Attacks on security agencies remain a major challenge, prompting renewed calls for tougher sanctions and improved operational support.

In November, two officers of the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) sustained serious injuries after unknown gunmen ambushed and opened fire on them. The unfortunate incident occurred at Nagani in the Tempane District of the Upper East Region late Sunday night, November 2. According to reports, the unidentified assailants opened fire on them when the officers were returning from their duties on a motorbike late that night. The victims are receiving emergency medical treatment at the Upper East Regional Hospital in Bolgatanga.

A source reportedly within the regional command said, “The attackers laid an ambush and shot at the unsuspecting officers.” The victims were rushed to the Upper East Regional Hospital in Bolgatanga, where they are receiving emergency medical treatment.

This update follows a similar tragedy that occurred in August, when an armed attack at the Gbintri inland checkpoint in the East Mamprusi Municipality of the North East Region reportedly left an Assistant Immigration Control Officer II (AICOII), Rafiq Mohammed, dead and another officer, AICOII Oppong Daniel, injured. The details of the attack remain unclear.

While details of the attack remain unclear, reports suggest the incident took place at about 1:30 a.m. on Friday, October 3. AK-47 shell casings used by the attackers during the operation were retrieved by the joint response team, led by Superintendent Francis Brobbey, Gambaga Municipal Police Commander, and DIS Moro Tanko Mohammed, North Regional Intelligence Officer of the GIS.

Meanwhile, AICOII Oppong Daniel received treatment at the Baptist Medical Centre in Nalerigu after sustaining multiple gunshot wounds in the incident.

In a separate incident, officials of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) narrowly escaped death in a mob assault at Hwediem in the Ahafo Region on Saturday, November 1. The officials came under violent attack while carrying out their day-to-day activities as part of efforts to crack down on illegal mining in the Ahafo Region. The operation resulted in the arrest of several miners, including a Burkinabe national.

Locals were seen in a video that has since gone viral confronting the anti-mining task force and calling for the release of those arrested during the operation. Speaking to the media, NAIMOS spokesperson, Paa Kwesi Schandorf, described the attack as “extremely and profoundly disappointing,” adding, “It was a huge surprise that the locals became agitated, demanding the release of those arrested, and then began attacking the NAIMOS team.”

According to him, the officials “survived clearly by the mercy of God. If you look at how they were charged, the rest of the team could have lost their lives.” Meanwhile, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Asutifi North, Ebenezer Kwaku Addo, has been accused of inciting the mob against the NAIMOS team.

In July this year, the lifeless body of an immigration officer identified as Stephen King Amoah, also known as Nana Kofi, was discovered in a drainage system near GBC Satellite, opposite Comet Estate, Accra. The deceased is said to have gone missing five days earlier (since July 3) before his tragic death. This was contained in a press statement by the Ghana Police Service on Thursday, July 10.

Providing more details about the tragic incident, the police noted that the murderer(s) of the 38-year-old also set his body on fire. The deceased’s remains were conveyed to the Police Hospital morgue after relatives positively identified the body as Stephen.

The police disclosed that their preliminary investigations indicate the deceased had gone to meet his debtor, one Bright Aweh, who had promised to pay the outstanding debt on Thursday, July 3, in the evening. The victim never returned home that night, and his phone remained switched off throughout, raising concerns among family and friends who later reported him missing.

"Investigations revealed that on 3rd July 2025, at about 8:00 p.m., the deceased left his residence at Ashongman Estate after receiving WhatsApp images of cash bundles from one Bright Aweh, who requested to meet him at a spot at Ashongman Estate to settle an outstanding amount. According to the complainant, the deceased never returned home that night, and his phone remained switched off thereafter," the police said.

After the deceased’s family filed a complaint at the police station, Bright Aweh was arrested to assist with the investigation. He admitted that he met with the deceased and alleged that he gave a cash amount of GHS 500,000 to the deceased, instructing him “to use part of the money to pay off some debts and hold the remaining amount for later collection.” But the police, in their statement, noted that “the suspect could not clearly explain the source of the funds and gave conflicting statements.”

Meanwhile, the police pledged to get to the bottom of the case and ensure justice is served to the perpetrators.

"The Regional Police Command strongly condemns such violent and criminal acts and assures the public that it is working diligently to uncover the full circumstances surrounding this incident and bring all responsible persons to justice," it added.

Subsequently, the Ghana Police announced the arrest of the prime suspect in the gruesome murder of immigration officer Stephen King Amoah, also known as Nana Kofi, on August 4. This follows the discovery of weapons believed to have been used in the murder of Immigration Officer Stephen Amoah.

During a press briefing on Monday, August 4, the Director-General of the CID, COP Lydia Yaako Donkor, revealed that bloodstains were found in the living room, on a burnt, blood-soaked carpet, and on a fufu pestle suspected to have been used in the murder by the suspect. According to the police, the forensic inspection conducted on Thursday, July 24, also exposed freshly sprayed walls, hinting at an attempted cleanup by the suspect.

"The Kwabenya Teshie Police visited the suspect's residence, and the forensic inspection revealed the following bloodstains in the living room and evidence of attempted cleanup, freshly sprayed walls, and an empty can of spray paint. A search of a secondary crime scene near the GBC satellite area also uncovered a burnt woolen carpet and partially burnt camouflage fabric. These items were photographed, retrieved and photocopied for forensic analysis. On 24th July, the police received a warrant to search a particular room in the suspect's house. A search in the room revealed more bloodstains, which were photographed and samples collected for forensic analysis. A further search in the bushes about 100 metres from the suspect's house also led to the retrieval of the…" the police said.

The Service noted that, in the coming days, it will undertake a DNA exercise on the bloodstains with samples from the deceased’s mother and son to aid the process.

"I wish to say that the initial blood sample collected was positive for human blood. To aid the investigations, the deceased mother and son have provided samples for DNA profiling. In the face of these pieces of evidence, the suspect, who was initially charged with kidnapping, has since been rearrested and formally charged with murder. He is currently on remand following his appearance at the Adabraka District Court and is scheduled to reappear on 8th August 2025. A special operation is currently underway to identify and arrest his accomplices, and we are following other vital leads to gather all necessary evidence against the suspect and his accomplices. The Ghana Police Service wishes to assure the public that the investigation is ongoing and every effort is being made to ensure that all the perpetrators are prosecuted," she added.

Meanwhile, recent reports suggested that the third suspect involved in the murder of Stephen King Amoah, an Immigration Officer, has succumbed to an illness. According to sources, the victim's brother, Kwasi Amoako, revealed this information to the media. "Yesterday we went to court and I can confirm that the third suspect has passed on. I was told by the Police CID, the one who is in charge of the case. We thank God that our brother has started seeking justice for himself," he is quoted to have said by MyJoyOnline. The police are yet to issue a formal statement on the suspect's death.

The Adabraka District Court on August 22 continued hearing the case after remanding the prime suspect into police custody for two weeks. The court adjourned the case involving the murder of immigration officer Stephen King Amoah to October 9 following the police’s request for more time to gather the necessary evidence against the accused parties.

The adjournment of the case was announced during the court hearing at the Adabraka District Court on Thursday, September 4, where prosecutors said the Ghana Police Service needed more time and specialised gadgets to advance investigations. According to them, a court order had been secured to facilitate the process, and they prayed that the suspects, Bright Aweh and Thomas Ziggah, remain in custody.

However, Counsel for the suspects, Gordon Aboagye, expressed concerns about the state of his clients, who appeared visibly distressed, suggesting that they may have been held under harsh conditions while in custody. Referring to the need to uphold democratic principles, he prayed that the court reveal the detention location of the suspects to enable their families to visit them and check their well-being while in custody.

“In line with democratic principles, families of the suspects should be aware of their location to enable visitation. My Lord, my client has appeared in court limping and with bloodshot eyes. He has already been treated twice at the Police Hospital without improvement. We respectfully request that he be sent to Korle Bu Teaching Hospital for independent medical attention,” he argued.

However, the prosecution objected, urging the defence to formally apply if it insists on the transfer of its client. He further appealed to the bereaved family to remain calm and allow the law to take its course.

“We sympathise with the family of the deceased and plead with them to remain calm and allow the law to take its course,” he added.

The court, on the other hand, admonished the bereaved family to remain patient, assuring them that justice would be duly served.