A Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) officer has died, while a colleague is battling for his life after an explosion involving a motor tricycle carrying suspected dynamite at Hamile in the Upper West Region.
The explosion occurred on Tuesday, November 3, along an unauthorised route in the area, raising fresh security concerns about the movement of suspected explosive materials through unapproved routes.
Security sources in Hamile say the explosion also killed the civilians riding the motor tricycle and transporting the suspected explosives.
The civilians were reportedly being chased by security personnel after allegedly ignoring an order to stop at a security checkpoint.
Preliminary accounts indicate that the motor tricycle was travelling along an unauthorised route when security personnel attempted to intercept it. The occupants reportedly ignored instructions to stop, leading to a pursuit that eventually ended in the explosion.
The blast also struck the pursuing officers, killing one Immigration Service personnel and leaving another with critical injuries.
The injured officer is reported to be in serious condition. However, details regarding the nature of the injuries and the medical facility where the officer is receiving treatment remain unclear.
Hamile, a border community in the Upper West Region, lies close to Ghana’s boundary with Burkina Faso. The area is a key security point, where law enforcement agencies conduct surveillance and operations to prevent unauthorised movements and other cross-border threats.
The use of unauthorised routes along border communities poses security challenges, making it difficult for security agencies to monitor the movement of people, goods and potentially dangerous materials.
