The Minister of Interior, Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka, has assured the family of a Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) officer critically injured in an explosion at Hamile in the Upper West Region that the government will bear all medical expenses incurred during his treatment.

Muntaka gave the assurance when he visited the injured officer at the 37 Military Hospital in Accra, where he is receiving specialised medical care after being airlifted from the incident scene.

During the visit, he expressed sympathy to the officer's family and assured them of the government's full support throughout the recovery process.

“All medical expenses arising from the incident would be covered,” he stated, adding that every effort would be made to ensure the officer receives the best possible care.

In a statement dated November 4, 2026, Muntaka cautioned the public against the unsafe handling, transportation and use of explosives.

He urged citizens to comply strictly with the laws and safety regulations governing the possession, movement, and use of explosive materials, warning that negligence could have devastating consequences for individuals and communities.

The Deputy Comptroller-General of Immigration in charge of Command Posts and Operations, Faisal Disu, who accompanied the Minister, briefed him on the circumstances surrounding the explosion.

According to DCG Disu, a four-member immigration patrol team on routine duty encountered a tricycle carrying two occupants travelling towards Burkina Faso through an unapproved route.

He explained that when the officers attempted to stop the tricycle, the rider veered off the road, prompting the team to pursue the occupants.

Interior Minister bans arms, ammunition at Hamile following deadly explosion

It was later established that the two occupants were transporting explosives, which detonated during the incident, killing one immigration officer and both civilians on the tricycle.

Another immigration officer sustained severe injuries and was subsequently airlifted to Accra for specialised medical attention.

DCG Disu further disclosed that some youth in the area attacked Ghana Immigration Service installations following the explosion, reportedly in reaction to the actions of the patrol team.

He maintained that the officers were performing their lawful duties, stressing that they were carrying out their lawful mandate to prevent cross-border crime and other illegal activities along the country's borders.

The attacks and subsequent tensions resulted in the imposition of a curfew on Hamile Township to prevent further assaults on immigration officers during the night.

In a related development, the Regional Security Council, including the Immigration Service, met with chiefs and the Hamile-Happa Traditional Area Committee to discuss concerns arising from the incident.

The service said the engagement had helped calm tensions in Hamile and surrounding communities.

It also appealed to residents of border communities to cooperate with security agencies and refrain from attacking officers or public installations, particularly when personnel are performing their lawful duties.

The Ghana Immigration Service reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding Ghana's territorial integrity and combating cross-border crime while extending its condolences to the family of the deceased officer and wishing the injured officer a speedy and full recovery.

MRA

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