By Daniel Bampoe
The Mamprugu Youth Association (MAYA), Bawku Chapter, has raised fresh alarm over worsening insecurity in the Bawku enclave following a deadly attack on female travellers along the Bolgatanga–Bawku highway. This incident has intensified concerns over safety on one of the region’s most volatile routes.
In a press release dated April 20, 2026, the association condemned what it described as a brutal assault on innocent women travelling from Bolgatanga to Bawku on Monday evening.
According to the group, the attack occurred along the Police Station–highway stretch, where suspected armed assailants ambushed the victims.
The incident reportedly left one woman dead, while three others sustained varying degrees of injuries.
The victims were said to be returning from Bolgatanga when they were attacked, further highlighting what the association says is the growing danger faced by commuters, particularly women, using the road.
The group attributed the attack to what it described as “armed bandits,” whom it accused of operating with increasing boldness and impunity in the area.
The association linked the deteriorating security situation to the breakdown of ongoing mediation efforts led by the Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, whose intervention in the long-standing Bawku chieftaincy conflict had previously brought some level of calm.
According to MAYA, the latest incident is part of a disturbing pattern of violence that continues to plague the Bawku area, particularly along the Bolgatanga–Bawku–Pulimakom corridor, which has become notorious for attacks on travellers in recent months.
The association expressed condolences to the family of the deceased and sympathised with the injured victims, wishing them a speedy recovery.
However, it stressed that beyond the humanitarian concern, the incident underscores what it described as the failure of security agencies to secure major routes in the conflict-prone area adequately.
“It is deeply worrying that armed bandits continue to operate freely on this stretch of road, terrorising innocent commuters,” the statement noted, adding that the situation has reached a point where urgent and decisive intervention is required.
The group also criticised what it perceives as a lack of adequate response from political authorities and security leadership, arguing that the scale and frequency of such attacks demand stronger action.
As part of its demands, the Mamprugu Youth Association called on security agencies to immediately launch investigations into the attack, apprehend those responsible, and ensure they are prosecuted.
The association further urged government and security institutions to intensify patrols and operations along the Bolgatanga–Bawku–Pulimakom road to guarantee the safety of commuters and prevent further attacks.
In addition, the group called on the Member of Parliament for Bawku Central and other stakeholders to prioritise peacebuilding and security measures in the area, warning against actions that could deepen divisions in an already fragile environment.
A specific concern raised by the association was what it described as the use of certain locations as operational bases for criminal activity. The group urged security forces, particularly the military, to take decisive action regarding the “Ambitious” filling station area, which it alleged has become a hotspot for criminal elements and a staging ground for attacks along the highway.
The association warned that continued inaction could erode public confidence in state security institutions and embolden perpetrators. It stressed that residents and travellers cannot be left at the mercy of armed groups controlling key road networks.
The latest incident adds to growing fears over the resurgence of violence in Bawku, a town that has experienced decades of intermittent conflict linked to chieftaincy disputes between Mamprusi and Kusasi groups.
The attacks on highways not only threaten lives but also disrupt economic activity and deepen insecurity across the Upper East Region, where movement between towns remains critical for trade and daily livelihoods.
The Mamprugu Youth Association concluded its statement with a strong call for immediate restoration of law and order, insisting that “enough is enough” and urging authorities to act swiftly to protect lives and restore confidence in security operations.
The Ghana Police Service and other security agencies are yet to issue an official response to the incident as of the time of filing this report.
