Interior Minister Summoned Over Serial Killings of Security Personnel

Interior Minister Henry Quartey has been summoned to appear before Parliament on Wednesday, June 26, to provide a detailed briefing on the measures being taken by the government to address the recent serial killings of private security personnel in Bole and Wa in the Upper West Region.

The directive was issued by Second Deputy Speaker Andrew Amoako Asiamah on Tuesday during a session in which Yusif Sulemana, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Bole, raised the alarming issue on the floor of the House.

"Mr. Speaker, I want to report to you that the people of Bole are living in fear; between May and June, three people lost their lives through serial killings," Mr. Sulemana stated. "And this morning, I also read or watched TV and also heard that two people have been murdered in a very similar manner in Wa."

Mr. Sulemana highlighted that despite the Minister of Interior deploying additional personnel to Bole last week to curb the situation, further action is urgently needed.

"Mr. Speaker, the murderers are targeting watchmen, and so a watchman is lying, taking care of whatever he is supposed to take care of, and then a stone or block is used in hitting his head and killing the person instantly," he explained.

The MP emphasized the severity of the situation, citing that within a short period, three people had been killed. He called for the Interior Minister to brief Parliament and provide assurance to the affected areas.

He also shared a personal observation: "Last month, for instance, I decided to take a walk in the Bole township and by 20:30 hours, everybody was asleep; a self-imposed curfew. Mr. Speaker, we cannot continue in this manner."

In a bid to boost morale, former President John Dramani Mahama visited Bole three days ago to encourage local police. Mr. Sulemana, upon interacting with the police, discovered that the number of officers had dwindled from 71 in 2021 to about 50, with more transfers pending.

Mr. Sulemana appealed to the Interior Minister to provide an update on the current number of permanent police officers in Bole.

Supporting the call for urgent action, Dr. Rashid Hassan Pelpuo, MP for Wa Central, highlighted a disturbing trend of night security guards being targeted, noting that nine people were killed in Wa Central last year under similar circumstances. Despite ongoing police investigations, the killings have resumed, spreading fear and uncertainty.

"Mr. Speaker, I think that the Police must sit up, and I also think that some further and quality investigations have to happen into this matter. We are worried about the situation; we are worried that lives are lost..." Dr. Pelpuo urged.

He called on the Police to intensify their efforts to apprehend the perpetrators and ensure justice is served.

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