Gunfight Breaks Out At Bawku Checkpoint Over Smuggling Dispute

Bawku, one of the towns in the Upper East Region known for its occasional war with the Mamprusi over the chieftaincy title has been faced with a violent clash at the border.

The violent clash occurred on Wednesday, October 9, at the Missiga Immigration Service checkpoint in Bawku between personnel of the Ghana Police Service and Customs officials over a suspected case of smuggling.

The clash was alleged to have begun when Customs officers attempted to inspect a truck heading to Togo, suspected of carrying smuggled cocoa beans. As it is done at every checkpoint, goods and vehicles are inspected as and when the customs deem fit. This was not any different or unusual request when the customs officers asked to check the vehicle. Police officers at the checkpoint allegedly denied the inspection leading to a fierce argument that quickly escalated into gunfire.

A video of the incident captured the tense verbal exchange that quickly descended into violence as shots were fired between the two security agencies. Bystanders and other officials scampered for cover as shots rang out in the air. 

This incident has brought into focus the coordination between government agencies responsible for security along the borders. The smuggling of cocoa has been a perennial problem in Ghana, with traffickers exploiting loopholes to avoid paying taxes and duties by illegally moving goods across borders.