An attack occurred on the Walewale-Tamale highway, where gunmen targeted a bus headed to Kumasi, leaving 3 adults and 1 infant trapped and unable to escape after the bus was set ablaze. The bus which has a carrying capacity of 62 passengers, had passengers on board before the attack. Although some managed to flee, including the guardian of the infant, who had to leave the child behind to take refuge in the bush . While being interrogated she mentioned it is a tragic experience for her to have lost her child in that way because she thought the attackers will chase them into the Bush and get distracted from those in the bus. Unknown to her they added fuel to the bus and set it ablaze.
The police established that the victims were foreigners from Burkina Faso and neighboring communities, as they were unable to communicate in any Ghanaian language. This attack is thought to be linked to the unrest in the area, with individuals taking advantage of the volatile situation.
In response to the attack, Dr. Omane Boamah, representing the government, has called upon Otumfuo of the Ashante Kingdom to intervene, recognizing the pivotal role the kingdom can play in addressing the issue. The Ghana Police Service has also assured travelers of increased security presence along the highway
To address the unrest in Bawku, Dr. Victor Doke, a security consultant, recommends increasing patrol surveillance and gathering information by infiltrating the local communities to obtain grassroots information from the indigenous people. This approach can help identify the perpetrators and bring them to justice .
The Minister of Defence also suggests two measures to combat the unrest. Firstly, thorough planning and research are necessary to understand the root causes of the conflict. Secondly, implementing strategic measures to manage tensions and ensure public safety is crucial.
The Ghana Police Service and the Ghana Armed Forces have already deployed joint teams to manage tensions and ensure public safety in Bawku and its surrounding areas. They have also enhanced their presence along the Bolgatanga-Walewale-Tamale highway to facilitate the smooth movement of vehicles and manage traffic flow .
