The Accra Chapter of the Mamprugu Youth Association has accused the Ghana Police Service of carrying out the extrajudicial killing of a 33-year-old man from Bawku while he was in police custody, describing the incident as a “national disgrace” and a serious threat to peace in the conflict-prone area.
At a press conference in Accra on Friday, the Association’s spokesperson, lawyer Yakubu Nambe, alleged that Abdul-Aziz Iddrisu, popularly known as Baaluuse, was killed after being arrested in connection with investigations into the December 2025 attack on police officers at the Karimenga barrier in the Upper East Region.
According to the group, Abdul-Aziz was arrested on February 17, 2026, in a suburb of Bolgatanga together with two siblings. The Ghana Police Service reportedly announced the arrest publicly, stating that he was assisting with investigations into the incident that resulted in the death of General Constable Seth Oppong Damoah and injuries to two other officers.
The association said the two siblings were granted bail the following day, while Abdul-Aziz was reportedly transferred to the Police Headquarters in Accra.
However, the family and their legal representatives, led by human rights lawyer Martin Kpebu, were allegedly unable to locate him after visiting several security institutions, including the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB), and National Security.
The group said all the institutions denied having the suspect in their custody despite earlier public confirmation by the police.
According to the association, a formal request by the lawyer to the Inspector-General of Police seeking access to his client received no response. They further claimed that during a subsequent meeting, the IGP verbally informed the lawyer that Abdul-Aziz had been shot dead by police officers.
The Mamprugu Youth Association said no official written communication, autopsy report, or explanation has been provided to the family, and the body has not been released for burial.
“This is an alarming case where a suspect publicly confirmed to be in police custody has allegedly been executed without trial, without charges, and without any judicial process,” Mr. Nambe said.
The group argued that the incident raises serious constitutional and human rights concerns, including alleged violations of the right to life, personal liberty, and fair trial under Ghana’s 1992 Constitution.
They further claimed that the death forms part of a broader pattern of alleged harassment and arrests targeting members of the Mamprusi community amid the long-standing Bawku chieftaincy conflict.
The association called on the government, the Ministry of the Interior, the Inspector-General of Police, the Attorney-General, the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), and the National Peace Council to institute an independent investigation into the matter.
Among their demands are the full disclosure of the circumstances surrounding the death, an independent post-mortem examination at either Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital or the 37 Military Hospital, and the prosecution of any officers found responsible.
They also called for the immediate suspension of the Inspector-General of Police and the establishment of an independent bipartisan commission of inquiry into the incident.
The group urged civil society organisations, the media, traditional authorities, and the international community to demand accountability to prevent further escalation of tensions in the Bawku area.
“The pursuit of justice and transparency is critical not only for the family of the deceased but also for sustaining peace and public confidence in state institutions,” the association stated.
