News Desk Report
The Foundation for Security and Development in Africa (FOSDA) has called for a comprehensive national investigation into the dynamite explosion at Hamile in the Lambussie District of the Upper West Region, which killed a Ghana Immigration Service officer and two civilians on November 3, 2026.
The incident also left another Immigration officer injured and several other people reportedly requiring medical attention.
In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Theodora W. Anti, FOSDA expressed condolences to the bereaved families and called for an independent examination of the circumstances surrounding the explosion and a subsequent confrontation between residents and security personnel.
According to the Ghana Immigration Service, a four-member patrol team encountered a tricycle carrying a load along an unapproved route towards Burkina Faso. The rider reportedly attempted to evade the officers, and the load exploded during the interception, killing the two civilian occupants and one Immigration officer.
FOSDA said the incident raises concerns about the acquisition, transportation and regulation of explosives, particularly the possibility of dangerous materials moving through unauthorised border routes.
It cautioned, however, that there was no established evidence linking the incident to terrorist activity or organised armed groups.
Allegations of firearm use and civilian casualties
FOSDA also cited accounts suggesting that an Immigration officer may have fired at the tricycle in an attempt to stop it before the explosion.
The organisation said this claim must be independently established, including whether a firearm was discharged, who fired it and the circumstances surrounding its use.
Separately, reports from local representatives and media accounts indicated that civilians sustained gunshot wounds and other injuries during a subsequent confrontation between residents and security personnel.
The Assembly Member for Hamile West Electoral Area, Mohammed Fatawu, told the Ghana News Agency that an eyewitness alleged an officer fired at the tricycle, triggering the explosion. He also reported that 10 civilians sustained gunshot wounds or fractures during the subsequent confrontation.
These accounts have not been independently established and should not be treated as confirmed findings.
FOSDA called for the reported civilian casualties and the conduct of security personnel during the confrontation to be examined, stressing that security operations must comply with standards of professionalism, necessity, proportionality and respect for human rights.
FOSDA proposes security reforms
The organisation urged the government to coordinate a comprehensive investigation involving the Ghana Police Service, Ghana Immigration Service, Ghana Armed Forces, relevant explosives regulatory institutions and national security agencies.
It also called for an independent civilian oversight component to examine allegations surrounding firearm use and civilian casualties.
FOSDA recommended a review of existing systems for licensing, acquiring, transporting, storing and monitoring explosives, with particular attention to informal supply chains and unauthorised transportation routes. It further urged Ghana to endorse the United Nations Declaration on the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (EWIPA).
The organisation also called for the strengthening and resourcing of Border Security Committees (BOSEC) to improve intelligence gathering, information sharing and coordination in border communities.
Other recommendations include deeper engagement between security agencies and traditional authorities, local government structures, youth groups and residents, as well as stronger cooperation with Burkina Faso and other regional partners to prevent the illicit movement of explosives.
FOSDA acknowledged the risks security personnel face in protecting Ghana’s territorial integrity but stressed that effective border security requires strong regulatory systems, accountable security operations and public confidence.
It urged residents of Hamile and surrounding communities to remain calm, cooperate with lawful processes and refrain from violence or reprisals.
The organisation also called on the Ministry of the Interior and relevant security institutions to provide credible updates on the findings and measures being taken to address the security vulnerabilities exposed by the incident.
Source: www.thenewindependentonline.com