Interior Minister visits injured GIS Officer at 37 Military Hospital following Hamile explosion

The Minister for the Interior, Alhaji Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, has visited the 37 Military Hospital in Accra to assess the condition of a Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) officer critically injured in an explosion at Hamile in the Upper West Region.

The officer, airlifted to Accra for specialised medical care, is currently receiving treatment at the hospital, an official statement signed for the Head/Public Affairs Department of GIS by DSI Barbara Sam, the Deputy Head/Public Affairs Department, said.

During the visit, Alhaji Muntaka expressed sympathy to the officer’s family and assured them of the Government’s full support throughout the recovery process.

He further assured the family that all medical expenses arising from the incident would be covered and that every effort would be made to ensure the officer receives the best possible care.

The Minister also 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 (DCG/OPS), Faisal Disu, who led a delegation of senior Immigration officers to accompany the Minister, briefed him on the circumstances surrounding the incident.

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.

When the team attempted to stop the tricycle, the rider veered off the road, prompting the officers to pursue them.

It was later established that the occupants were transporting explosives, which detonated during the incident, resulting in casualties.

The incident led to the death of one Immigration officer and two civilians on the tricycle at the scene, while one other immigration officer sustained severe injuries and was airlifted to Accra and admitted to the 37 Military Hospital for specialised care. The hospital has assured the Service of its commitment to providing the injured officer with the highest standard of medical attention.

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

He, however, stressed that the officers were carrying out their lawful mandate to prevent cross-border crime and other illegal activities along the country’s borders. This has resulted in a curfew being imposed on the Hamile Township in order to forestall further attacks 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 dialogue on the concerns raised. The ongoing engagement has helped calm tensions in Hamile and its environs.

The Ghana Immigration Service reaffirms its unwavering commitment to safeguarding Ghana’s territorial integrity and combating cross-border crime. The Service also appeals to border communities to cooperate with security agencies and refrain from attacking officers or public installations, particularly when personnel are performing their lawful duties.

The Service extends its deepest condolences to the family of the deceased officer and wishes the injured officers a speedy and full recovery.