Minority Demands Urgent Briefing from Interior Minister on Rising Insecurity in Ghana
The Minority caucus in Ghana’s Parliament has demanded an urgent closed-door briefing from Interior Minister Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak to address the escalating wave of suspected ritual killings and violent crimes across the country, warning that public safety is at serious risk.
The call, led by Minority Chief Whip Frank Annoh-Dompreh on July 26, 2025, invokes Order 60 of Parliament’s Standing Orders for a sensitive national security discussion, emphasizing the need for swift government action to restore public confidence.
Annoh-Dompreh highlighted a series of alarming incidents, including the July 26, 2025, shooting at Nalerigu Senior High School, where two students, Lukman and Gideon, were killed by unidentified gunmen, an attack suspected to be linked to the Bawku chieftaincy conflict.
A similar targeted shooting at Bawku Senior High School claimed a third-year student, Hakim Kundima, the same night, prompting the school’s temporary closure.
In Asawase, Ashanti Region, two fatal shootings occurred within days: the July 22 assassination of Kusasi Chief Abdul-Malik Azenzge and the July 25 killing of Mohammed Madi Suleman, both by motorbike-riding assailants.
The Minority’s concerns echo a broader rise in violent crime, with Ghana Police Service data noting a 25% increase in shooting incidents in the Ashanti Region over the past year. Additional reports of suspected ritual killings, such as the July 24 murder of Immigration Officer Stephen King Amoah, whose charred body was found in Kwabenya, and the July 25 arson in Asuoso Fenaso that killed a 17-year-old, have fueled public fear. The Minority criticized the government’s response as inadequate, urging Minister Muntaka to detail security measures.
In response, the government, through a July 27 statement by Presidential Spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu, announced a shift to “peace enforcement” in Bawku and Nalerigu, imposing a 2:00 PM to 6:00 AM curfew and deploying the Ghana Armed Forces to protect residents and evacuate students. The Ashanti Regional Security Council (REGSEC) also banned motorbike operations after 7:00 PM in Asokore Mampong and Kumasi Metropolis, citing their use in recent attacks. Minister Muntaka, who has pledged to address the Bawku conflict and enhance police professionalism through measures like body cameras, faces mounting pressure to provide concrete solutions.
The Minority’s demand for a briefing underscores the urgency of addressing these incidents, with Annoh-Dompreh stating, “We cannot let this matter die naturally.” As investigations continue, with police recovering evidence like AK-47 shells in Asawase, the public awaits assurances of justice and safety amid growing insecurity.
