Nine civilians injured in the aftermath of the deadly dynamite blast at Hamile have been discharged from hospital. The blast, which occurred on November 3, resulted in the deaths of one immigration officer and two civilians. The incident took place on an unapproved bush route known as Mountain Back Two, where two immigration officers intercepted a tricycle allegedly carrying dynamite.
The update on the discharged civilians was provided by the Ghana Immigration Service sector commander at Hamile, Chief Superintendent Mohammed Abdul Manan, and the Upper West Regional Police Commander, DCOP Francis Yiribaare. They disclosed that the two remaining injured civilians were transferred to the Upper West Regional Hospital for further treatment.
Immigration Comptroller-General Samuel Basintale Amadu visited the border town of Hamile, where a curfew and a ban on carrying arms or offensive weapons have been imposed. During his visit, he led peace talks with the Upper West Regional Security Council, the Border Security Committee, traditional leaders, and youth representatives. The talks aimed to address concerns and appeals from the community, including the lifting of the curfew.
The Hamile chiefs and youth expressed regret over the subsequent clashes and assured the Comptroller-General of peaceful coexistence between residents and border officers. Community leaders appealed for the lifting of the curfew and the clearance of stranded cargo trucks, citing stalled trade and food vending due to border restrictions.
The Interior Ministry revised the Hamile curfew to 10:00 pm to 4:00 am. In response to the appeals, Amadu promised to consult the Minister of the Interior on lifting the curfew if calm prevails, transfer officers who have overstayed their postings, and roll out a Community Engagement and Policing initiative.
Amadu emphasized the importance of peaceful resolution, stating, \"We shouldn't always come to war-war, but to jaw-jaw for peace to always prevail.\" He also warned that even a six-hour border closure causes severe build-ups of Malian cargo traffic and urged the town not to shield smugglers moving weapons and Tramadol through unapproved routes.
During his visit, the Comptroller-General commiserated with the families of the deceased civilians, inspected the Mountain Back Two blast site, and was accompanied by regional and sector commanders. The incident highlights the need for continued engagement and cooperation between residents, border officers, and local authorities to maintain peace and stability in the area.
Key points
- Nine injured civilians discharged from hospital after Hamile explosion
- Two injured civilians transferred to Upper West Regional Hospital for further treatment
- Comptroller-General promises to consult on lifting curfew if calm prevails
