by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Chief International Correspondent
ACCRA (Worthy News) – A military convoy escorting civilians came under fire in northern Ghana on Monday, leaving at least three civilians dead and one injured, authorities said, highlighting ongoing violence in a region shaken by years of unrest.
The Ghana Armed Forces said the convoy was protecting about 140 civilians traveling from Bawku toward Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region when unidentified assailants opened fire multiple times near the town of Binduri.
Soldiers returned fire, killing seven of the attackers, the military said. Troops recovered weapons, including a G3 automatic rifle and ammunition, while ten suspects were arrested and are assisting with investigations.
The attack is the latest in a cycle of violence linked to a long-running dispute between the Mamprusi and Kusasi ethnic groups over who has the authority to appoint a traditional chief in Bawku.
The conflict has claimed more than 300 lives since 2021 and has spread beyond Bawku into surrounding areas, including Binduri, raising concerns about deteriorating security in what has long been seen as one of West Africa’s more stable nations.
Authorities imposed a nightly curfew on Binduri in March 2025 to contain the violence, which they lifted in February 2026 following what officials described as an improvement in the security situation.
CHRISTIANS ALSO AFFECTED
While the conflict is rooted primarily in ethnic and chieftaincy disputes rather than religion, Christians are among those affected in northern Ghana, where communities are often religiously mixed.
Open Doors says Ghana does not rank among the countries where Christians face systematic persecution and is not listed among the most severe nations on its World Watch List.
However, church leaders say insecurity, displacement, and recurring violence have disrupted Christian communities alongside others, affecting church gatherings, schooling, and daily life.
The broader Sahel region has seen a rise in Islamist extremist activity in recent years, raising concerns that instability could spread further, although officials stress the violence in Bawku remains locally driven.
For now, residents in the Upper East Region remain on edge as authorities seek to prevent further attacks and restore stability.
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