AGD CONDEMNS VIOLENT ATTACK ON POLICE PATROL OFFICERS AT GBAN AND RE-ECHOES OUR URGENT CALL FOR SECURITY IN GBAN AND THE ENTIRE MINING ENCLAVE IN TALENSI

 PRESS RELEASE

From: Alliance for Gban Development(AGD)Location: Gban Community, Talensi District, Upper East RegionDate:  18/06/2025Contacts: 0244860175 (chairman )0244345580 (secretary)To: The Hon. Minister for the InteriorMinistry of the InteriorAccra,

 GhanaSUBJECT  Alliance for Gban Development (AGD) is a registered community-based organization in Gbane. 

Barely a week after we presented a press conference on matters affecting the development of our community, we are once again compelled to, on behalf of the suffering, vulnerable, and traumatized people of Gban, voice out for the attention of the higher authorities within the Region and beyond, recent life-threatening acts and occurrences in Gban and the mining enclave in Taleng-teng. 

 Our recent call on the 7th of June, 2025, that sounded the alarm on repeated and intermittent violent attacks by faceless armed robbers in the Gban environs, yielded a very prompt response from the Honourable Regional Minister, the  Regional Police Commander, the Honourable Member of Parliament, and the District Chief Executive, who during their visit engaged the traditional authority and youth of Gban in a crucial meeting that was aimed at finding solutions to the security situation in the area. 

We welcomed the immediate action by the Regional Police Command with the deployment of ten (10) additional police officers to augment the strength of the six (6) officers already stationed in the area. 

We want to use this opportunity to express our formal appreciation to the regional authorities for this action.However, this action, which initially gave hope and also took away the fear of insecurity from the vulnerable people of our land, quickly dissipated and faded into thin air since on the night of June 13, 2025 ostensibly due to the violent gunshots attack on the police officers. 

Four of the police officers, whom we are told were on two motorbikes patrolling the community, nearly met their deaths when unknown gunmen or armed robbers ambushed and violently attacked them.

The attack affected three officers who sustained various degrees of gunshot injuries.They were later rescued by a reinforcement team and rushed to a private health facility in Bolgatanga for medical care. As if that was not enough, the robbers thereafter proceeded to our community and attempted to break into the house of one of our youths, but were unsuccessful. 

Occupants of the house as well as residents within the community who heard of the incidents, got terrified throughout the night. 

This brings to light the timely nature of our previous press conference and the prompt response and assurances from the Regional Minister, the Regional Police Commander and the DCE about the security measures that were put in place to curb the menace.

Nonetheless, this tragic and unfortunate incident is yet another vindication of our persistent cry for security and the initial prompt response by authorities in an attempt to maintain security in the area. We, members of AGD join our Chief and his elders to condemn in no uncertain terms this attack on Police officers who are sacrificing and risking their lives to protect and maintain security within our environs.  

We thank God that there were no deaths recorded, and we wish the injured Police Officers a speedy recovery.Nonetheless, we have some fundamental concerns that border on security lapses which, if NOT addressed quickly, could continually affect the safety and security of the police personnel, staff of the mining companies, and residents of Gban and its environs by these unidentified criminal elements. 

The fact that patrol officers operate on motorbikes in a volatile and high-risk area with bad roads such as ours is not only unacceptable but also a gross failure by authorities in strategic security deployment. 

The safety of both residents and officers must be treated as paramount and non-negotiable.Therefore, we make the following demands:1. 

PROVISION OF ARMORED PICKUP VEHICLES FOR USE BY THE SECURITY OFFICERS. 

Spare our gallant security men and women from the risks of operating on motor bikes in a gold-rich enclave zone blessed with two large-scale mining companies, namely Earl and Cardinal.  Most victims of these armed robberies are the workers of these companies and their families. 

We demand, without any condition (s) attached, immediate acquisition of 2 to 3 armoured pickup vehicles by the mining companies to be used solely for security patrols within the mining enclave. 

 We serve notice and hereby declare that if by the end of July, 2025, a minimum of 1 vehicle per company is not made available, the youth within the enclave shall visit them by way of demonstration to make known our stance to the world.

   2. PROVISION OF PERMANENT AND SUFFICIENT POLICE OFFICERS  

We reecho our call for permanent and sufficient police presence in barriers at designated sensitive locations in the enclave, not as a one-off reaction but as a sustained commitment to peace and protection.

3. PROPER AND INTELLIGENCE-LED INVESTIGATION INTO REPORTED CASES OF ARMED ROBBERY WITHIN THE AREA.

From the inception of these attacks and robberies, not a single robber has ever been arrested and identified. We reiterate, 

NOT ONE robber ever, yet, several lives, motorcycles, injuries, and monies have been taken from victims.   

We will not hide our suspicion of the involvement or knowledge of some of our security men in these criminal acts. If not, 

why has the police not been able to arrest just one armed robber out of the several cases of armed robbery in the area? 

We demand an intelligence-led investigation with the view to arresting and bringing to book all reported cases of armed robbery within the area.In conclusion, we call on all stakeholders, government, regional authorities, and the national security apparatus, to rise above the usual rhetoric and provide real, lasting security solutions in the area.   

Our people deserve to live without fear. Our police deserve to serve without being sacrificed.John Kpal Bognaab SecretaryFrom: Alliance for Gban Development (AGD)Location: Gban Community, Talensi District, Upper East Region Date:  18/06/2025CC:Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ghana Police Service, Accra Hon. Minister, Upper East Region, Bolgatanga Upper East Regional Police Commander, Ghana Police Service Hon. District Chief Executive, Talensi District Assembly Managing Director, Earl Group International Country Director, Cardinal Namdini Mining Limited (Shandong)All media house

Reported By Azaglo Michael