The Mamprugu Youth Association (MAYA) has accused the Ghana Police Service of alleged extrajudicial killings in the Upper East Region, describing the situation as a “national disgrace” and warning of what it called a growing pattern of abuse in Bawku and surrounding communities.
Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, May 6, the group called for the establishment of an independent commission of enquiry to investigate recent police operations in Zuarungu, which it alleged form part of a broader pattern of unlawful killings and attempted cover-ups.
Speaking on behalf of the association, representatives said the group was advocating for justice, human dignity and the protection of constitutional rights.
MAYA referred to an earlier case raised in March 2026 involving the death of Abdul-Aziz Iddrisu, a 33-year-old man who reportedly died while in police custody. According to the association, the Police had linked his arrest to investigations into a December 2025 attack at the Karimenga Barrier during which a police officer was killed.
However, the group argued that the circumstances surrounding his death remain unclear and may indicate a wider pattern of abuse.
“We warned that the incident was not isolated,” the association stated. “Rather, it signalled a troubling pattern of abuse in which state institutions are being used to carry out extrajudicial killings of Mamprusis in Bolgatanga.”
The association also questioned a recent police operation in Zuarungu, where officers reportedly arrested ten individuals on April 30, 2026. According to MAYA, witnesses who visited the suspects at the Zuarungu Police Station said all ten individuals were alive and in good condition at the time.
The Police later announced that four suspects had been arrested while two others allegedly died from gunshot wounds sustained during an intelligence-led operation targeting a robbery syndicate.
MAYA disputed that account, describing it as inconsistent and misleading.
“The family find this account inconsistent and misleading, an attempt to cover up wrongdoing and the murder they committed,” the statement said.
The association further alleged that four of the suspects were later granted police enquiry bail, while others remained in custody for interrogation. It claimed that two individuals who were eventually reported dead had previously been seen alive and without injuries.
The group also cited what it described as inconsistencies in official police communications, noting that the reported date of arrest was initially stated as April 29 before later being changed to April 30. It further alleged that details regarding suspected robbery activities were added in later versions of the police statement.
“The police statement was edited multiple times, with key details altered across versions, raising questions about its reliability,” the association claimed.
MAYA additionally questioned the circumstances surrounding the alleged gunshot injuries, asking when the suspects sustained the injuries and why they were reportedly unharmed while in custody but later declared dead.
The association called for clarification regarding who authorised the movement of the suspects and why there was no official explanation documenting the alleged injuries.
It also accused some members of the security services of exploiting tensions linked to the Bawku conflict for personal benefit.
“We are concerned by reports that elements within the security services are conflict entrepreneurs exploiting the Bawku conflict for personal gain,” the statement said.
MAYA insisted that the Police have no constitutional authority to take the lives of citizens through unlawful means.
“We wish to state unequivocally that the police do not have the authority under the Constitution or any law to take the life of a Ghanaian citizen through extrajudicial means,” the group stated.
The association has called on John Dramani Mahama to establish an independent commission of enquiry into the allegations, adding that it is prepared to provide evidence in support of its claims.
MAYA also demanded full transparency from the Ghana Police Service and accountability for any officers found culpable, regardless of rank.
