Nine of the 11 civilians injured in clashes that followed last Tuesday’s deadly dynamite explosion at Hamile have been discharged from hospital, while the remaining two have been transferred to the Upper West Regional Hospital.
The update was provided by Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) sector commander at Hamile, Chief Superintendent Mohammed Abdul Manan, and Upper West Regional Police Commander DCOP Francis Yiribaare.
They were speaking during a visit to the border town by Comptroller-General of Immigration Samuel Basintale Amadu, who led weekend peace talks in Wa and Hamile.
The meetings involved the Upper West Regional Security Council, the Border Security Committee, traditional leaders and youth representatives. They followed calls from Lambussie MP Prof Titus Kofi Beyuo for the curfew in Hamile to be lifted.
A government-imposed curfew, together with a ban on carrying arms or offensive weapons, remains in force in the town.
The explosion happened on 3 November along Mountain Back Two, an unauthorised bush route. Two immigration officers had stopped a tricycle allegedly transporting dynamite when the blast occurred.
One immigration officer and two civilians were killed. Another officer who was injured was airlifted to the 37 Military Hospital in Accra.
At the peace meeting, the Chief of Happa, Hiller Dyaka Thomas Badukun III, Happa-Hamile Development Committee chairman Alhaji Ibrahim Mohammed and youth representative Mohammed Ibrahim expressed regret over the violence that followed the explosion.
They assured Mr Amadu that residents and border officers could live peacefully alongside one another.
Community leaders called for the curfew to be removed and asked for stranded cargo trucks to be allowed through. They said restrictions at the border had disrupted trade and food vending.
The leaders also urged immigration officers to exercise greater restraint when dealing with civilians.
The Interior Ministry has since amended the curfew hours to 22:00-04:00. In response to the appeals, Mr Amadu said he would consult the Minister of the Interior about lifting the measure if calm continued.
He also promised to arrange the transfer of officers who had remained in their postings beyond the expected period and to introduce a Community Engagement and Policing initiative.
Mr Amadu told residents: “We shouldn’t always come to war-war, but to jaw-jaw for peace to always prevail.”
He warned that a border closure lasting even six hours could lead to severe congestion involving cargo traffic from Mali. He also urged residents not to protect smugglers using unauthorised routes to transport weapons and Tramadol.
Accompanied by regional and sector commanders, the Comptroller-General visited the families of the civilians who died to offer his condolences. He also inspected the Mountain Back Two site where the explosion took place.
