UP/W: GIS urges calm after Hamile border unrest

The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) has called for calm in Hamile following violent clashes at the border post over the weekend.

The unrest, which broke out on Saturday evening, saw some youth at the Hamile border in the Upper West Region destroy property and set a vehicle ablaze, accusing immigration officers of misconduct.

According to eyewitness accounts, the youth alleged that officers stationed at the Hamile border had allowed armed men from Burkina Faso to enter Ghana illegally, sparking anger that later escalated into a confrontation.

The incident was further triggered when immigration officers reportedly attempted to repatriate a Burkinabe woman who was said to be seeking refuge in Ghana. The move was resisted by the youth, resulting in clashes between them and the officers.

In a press statement signed by the Head of Public Affairs of GIS, Assistant Commissioner of Immigration, Michael Amoako Attah, the Service assured residents that a full investigation was underway. “We appeal to the youth of Hamile to remain calm. Appropriate measures will be taken based on the outcome of the investigations,” the statement read.

Security agencies have since moved in to restore order, and calm had returned to Hamile by Monday morning.

The GIS emphasised that it remains committed to safeguarding Ghana’s borders while ensuring that concerns of residents are addressed in a fair and transparent manner.

However, what began as a peaceful protest at Tamale Technical University (TaTU) on Monday ended in chaos, leaving several students injured after clashes with the police.

The demonstration, led by the Students’ Representative Council (SRC) and the Graduate Students’ Association of Ghana (GRASAG), was aimed at demanding improved campus facilities and the release of delayed funds. However, the protest turned violent when police intervened, sparking confrontations that sent many students to nearby health centres for treatment.

Students at Tamale Technical University say they were only highlighting their frustration over poor lecture halls, deteriorating hostel facilities, and delays in disbursing student levies when the situation spiralled out of control.