Nine people lost their lives in an attack by unknown individuals in the northeastern region of Ghana on September 21, 2023. This event took place amidst a time of increased communal tensions, and the Defense Minister of Ghana cautioned that such violence was aiding jihadist groups in the area.
An armed attack by unidentified individuals resulted in nine fatalities and several injuries in Ghana. The assailants opened fire on two vehicles carrying traders en route to a major market in Togo.
The ambush occurred in the Pusiga district, situated in the northeast of the country, near the border with Burkina Faso, which has been grappling with a jihadist insurgency. According to a local official, most of the victims were women.
At this stage, there is limited information regarding the motive and identity of the attackers. Law enforcement authorities are on-site, and the district chief of Pusiga has announced the launch of an investigation to ascertain the reasons behind this assault. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack as of yet.
This attack takes place against the backdrop of escalating communal tensions between the Kusasi and Mamprusi ethnic groups in the Bawku region, near the border with Burkina Faso.
These tensions escalated significantly in February when an immigration officer was killed, and two of his colleagues were injured. In response, the Ghanaian authorities deployed 1,000 soldiers to the border with Burkina Faso to enhance security.
The Defense Minister had noted that intercommunal violence was increasingly benefiting jihadist groups operating in the region. Indeed, analysts point out that Ghana’s immigration officers are now dedicating more of their time to addressing interethnic conflicts than securing the borders, making these borders vulnerable to terrorist attacks.
The fact that the assailants targeted civilians on their way to a market suggests, according to some experts, the involvement of jihadists.