A tragic incident in Gbintiri, East Mamprusi Municipality of the North East Region, has left a 51-year-old man dead after being shot by a police officer during a heated encounter at a checkpoint last Wednesday.
The deceased, identified as Mawutor Banakar, was reportedly travelling on a motorbike with another man from Gaboni to the Gbintiri Market when the confrontation occurred.
Conflicting accounts
According to eyewitnesses, the altercation began when police officers allegedly demanded GH¢10 from the travellers before allowing them to pass. The riders, who reportedly offered GH¢5 instead, were said to have engaged in a brief argument with the officers, leading to the fatal shooting of Banakar.
However, the police have disputed the extortion claims, insisting the shooting was accidental. A statement from the North East Regional Police Command’s Public Affairs Officer, DSP Robert Anabiik Anmain, said preliminary investigations showed that the victim tried to snatch a rifle from one of the officers during a search.
He explained that a struggle ensued, during which the gun accidentally discharged, hitting Banakar in the upper arm. Despite being rushed to hospital, he was pronounced dead on arrival.
Rising tension and community outrage
The incident has triggered anger and tension in Gbintiri, with residents condemning what they described as routine police extortion and harassment along the Gbintiri–Gaboni road. Locals claimed that officers often stop travellers, especially traders on market days, to demand money before allowing them to pass.
“We are tired of the constant demands for money at the checkpoint,” one resident lamented. “The police are supposed to protect us, not kill us.”
The Assembly Member for the Gbintiri Electoral Area, Manla Gbenja, also confirmed receiving reports that the officers had demanded GH¢10, leading to the argument and subsequent shooting.
Calls for justice and accountability
Residents are demanding an independent investigation, expressing distrust in the police’s ability to handle the case impartially. They have appealed to the Police Administration and the Ministry for the Interior to ensure a thorough and transparent probe into the incident.
Meanwhile, the officer involved has been taken into custody to assist with ongoing investigations.
The tragic death of Banakar has deepened public concern about police accountability and civilian safety in the North East Region.