A routine morning clean-up exercise at a mechanic shop in Bolgatanga took a dramatic turn after a hidden cache of ammunition was discovered in a poultry enclosure, prompting an intensive police investigation in the Upper East Region.
The incident occurred on Friday, May 9, 2026, near the Assemblies of God Church area in Bolgatanga. According to information gathered, an apprentice mechanic was sweeping around the workshop compound when he noticed two suspicious fertilizer sacks concealed inside a hen coop within the premises.
Curious about the unusual packages, the apprentice reportedly informed his master, who decided to inspect the contents. To their astonishment, the sacks were found to contain large quantities of live ammunition carefully wrapped and hidden from plain sight. The mechanic immediately alerted the police.
Personnel from the Upper East Regional Police Command swiftly moved to the scene and conducted a search.
Preliminary examination revealed that the concealed items were 7.62×39mm ammunition, a caliber commonly associated with assault rifles and other high-powered weapons.
Police retrieved two sealed packets containing 700 rounds each, bringing the total number of live ammunition recovered to 1,400 rounds.
The exhibits have since been secured and transported for evidential and forensic purposes as investigators work to identify the individuals behind the concealment and determine how the ammunition ended up at the workshop.
Security officials are also investigating whether the ammunition was intended for criminal operations or part of a wider illegal arms distribution network operating within or beyond the region.
The shocking discovery has sparked concern among residents and heightened security attention in the Upper East Region, especially at a time when law enforcement agencies are intensifying efforts to combat the illegal circulation of firearms and ammunition across the country.
Police say investigations are ongoing, and anyone with relevant information has been encouraged to cooperate with authorities.
