Joint security forces operating in the Bawku Municipality of the Upper East Region apprehended two individuals suspected of illegally transporting military grade equipment and ammunition. According to a Ghana Police Service report, the suspects were intercepted with a significant cache of weaponry and uniforms during a targeted operation aimed at curbing the escalating tensions in the area. The security agencies conducted the arrest after receiving intelligence regarding movement of suspicious cargo into the conflict zone.
MyJoyOnline reports that the items seized include several thousand rounds of assault rifle ammunition and multiple sets of military camouflage uniforms. Citi Newsroom confirmed that the suspects were driving a private vehicle when they were flagged down by a combined team of military and police personnel at a checkpoint. The officers discovered the haul concealed within the vehicle during a thorough search of the passenger and trunk compartments.
A statement from the Ghana Armed Forces indicated that the seized military accoutrements were not authorized for civilian possession or use by private security groups. The GhanaWeb news portal reported that the two men are currently being held at the Upper East Regional Police Command while investigators work to uncover the source of the ammunition. Officials stated that the investigation seeks to determine if the suspects are linked to specific factions involved in the local chieftaincy dispute.
The suspects have not yet been formally charged in a court of law but remain in custody for interrogation. The Ministry of the Interior has reiterated that the curfew in Bawku remains in force and security operations will continue to intensify to prevent the influx of illegal arms. Security experts quoted by Daily Graphic suggested that this seizure highlights the ongoing challenges of monitoring porous transit points used by arms traffickers in the northern belt of the country.