Government tightens curfews after fresh Bawku-related killings
The government has deployed more military personnel and tightened the curfew in Bawku and other areas following a spike in violence that has left three students dead in Bawku and Nalerigu in the Upper East and North East Regions.
Two students of Nalerigu Senior High School in the North East Region were shot in their dormitory on Saturday evening.
On the same night, a final-year student of Bawku Senior High School in the Upper East Region was also killed.
The attacks are believed to be linked to the long-standing Bawku chieftaincy dispute.
Read also: 3 students killed after gunmen stormed high school campuses in Bawku and Nalerigu and opened fire
Earlier in the week, Naa Abdul-Malik Azenbe, the chief of the Kusasi Community in the Ashanti Region was killed at Asawase was fatally shot in his residence by unknown gunmen.
A few days later, another man was killed in broad daylight in the same community, further raising alarm among residents.
Related: Second daylight shooting in a week rocks Kumasi’s Asawase
In a press statement issued by the Presidency on Sunday [July 27, 2025], the government said it was shifting its approach from peacekeeping to what it called “peace enforcement” in response to the recent escalation.
“The Ghana Armed Forces have been deployed to maintain law and order, as we intensify curfews to ensure public safety,” the statement said.
The release, signed by the Government Spokesperson, Mr Felix Kwakye Ofosu said the military had been instructed to take all necessary steps to protect lives and property.
Mr Ofosu also acknowledged the role of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II in mediating the conflict, noting that the efforts of the Asantehene, along with the Nayiri and Zugraana, had brought the process close to resolution before the renewed killings.
“These very recent killings have necessitated drastic actions to protect all in the interests of the greater good,” the statement said.
The government is urging all parties involved in the conflict to avoid violence and to support the peace process. Residents have also been advised to cooperate with security forces and to observe curfew regulations.
Although the Presidency expressed regret over the inconvenience caused by the heightened security presence, it said restoring calm in Bawku and the affected regions remained a top priority.
A dusk-to-dawn curfew has since been introduced in Nalerigu, alongside a ban on the possession of weapons.
Security agencies have commenced investigations into all recent incidents as public pressure mounts for swift and decisive action to contain the unrest spreading across the Upper East, North East and Ashanti regions.
The Bawku conflict, which stems from historical disagreements over chieftaincy and ethnic claims, has led to repeated outbreaks of violence and loss of life, despite earlier mediation efforts.
