BAWKU, Ghana (BN24) — At least four people, including two women, have been killed in separate shootings within 24 hours in Bawku and surrounding communities in Ghana’s Upper East Region, in what security officials fear could mark a resurgence of violent conflict in the area.
The attacks, which began early Friday and continued into Saturday morning, have left residents terrified and prompted an intensified military presence in the volatile municipality, long marred by ethnic tension between Kusasi and Mamprusi groups.
According to local sources, the first victim, a woman, was shot dead early Friday morning after stepping out of her home to meet a colleague. Her death was followed by another attack that evening around 7 p.m., when two armed men on a motorbike opened fire at a popular drinking spot in Garu, killing a man identified as Salam. Witnesses said the gunmen fled the scene immediately, leaving residents in shock.
Later that night, around 11 p.m., another woman was gunned down in Binduri under similar circumstances. Her attackers reportedly escaped before security forces could respond. The following morning, around 6 a.m. Saturday, gunmen ambushed and killed a man identified only as Azimbe along the Atuba road near Binduri.
Reports suggest that Azimbe was the son of the late Kusasi chief, who was murdered in Asawasi, Kumasi, in July this year, raising fears that the killings may be linked to ongoing reprisals and long-standing family or ethnic grievances.
The series of attacks has plunged the Bawku municipality into renewed tension. The area has been under a dusk-to-dawn curfew for several months, with restrictions on movement and a ban on carrying firearms. Security officials said the new wave of violence threatens to undermine peace efforts and humanitarian support in the area.
Military sources confirmed that ten people have been arrested in connection with the killing of the second woman in Binduri. The suspects are reportedly assisting police with investigations. Security patrols have since been increased across Bawku, Garu, and Binduri, as joint police-military teams move to restore calm and prevent retaliatory attacks.
Residents say fear has gripped the community, with many choosing to remain indoors. Schools and businesses operated below capacity on Saturday, as uncertainty hung over the municipality.
Bawku, a bustling trading hub near Ghana’s border with Burkina Faso, has been plagued by intermittent clashes for decades, largely fueled by deep-rooted chieftaincy and ethnic disputes. Despite government mediation and multiple peace initiatives, sporadic violence continues to erupt, claiming dozens of lives in recent years.
Local leaders and civil society groups are once again urging the government to intensify peacebuilding efforts and address the root causes of the Bawku conflict. “We cannot continue to live like this every few months; more blood is shed,” a resident told Myjoyonline.com on condition of anonymity.
Security analysts warn that the renewed violence could further destabilize the Upper East Region if swift and decisive action is not taken to curb reprisal attacks and disarm militant groups.
Authorities have urged residents to remain calm and cooperate with security agencies as investigations continue into the killings.
