The Minority in Parliament is pressing for an urgent in-camera session with the Minister for the Interior, Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak, over what they describe as a disturbing surge in violent crimes and suspected ritual killings across the country.
Raising the matter on the floor of Parliament on Saturday, July 26, Minority Chief Whip Frank Annoh-Dompreh invoked Order 60 of the Standing Orders, urging the House to summon the minister—who also oversees national security—for a confidential briefing.
“This matter is too grave to be ignored,” Annoh-Dompreh stated. “We must find a means to engage the Interior Minister in a closed sitting, as this is a matter of national security and public concern. The safety of our citizens is at risk.”
He called for decisive government intervention to restore public confidence amid growing fears sparked by an apparent rise in ritual-related killings and other violent crimes.
In recent days, a series of deadly incidents have intensified public anxiety. On the night of July 26, two students were fatally shot on the premises of Nalerigu Senior High School by unknown gunmen, leaving the local community reeling. While there are suspicions of links to the longstanding Bawku conflict, security officials have yet to confirm any such connection.
In a similar case, a student from Bawku SHS was recently killed in what appeared to be a targeted shooting on campus.
In response, the government has adjusted the curfew in the Bawku municipality, now restricting movement from 6:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. daily to contain potential unrest.
Elsewhere, in the Ashanti Region, another fatal shooting occurred on July 25 in Asawase. A man was reportedly shot dead by two assailants on a motorbike who fled the scene immediately after the attack. This came just days after the Kusasi Chief of the Ashanti Region was also killed in a similarly executed shooting.
These incidents have raised serious concerns over the effectiveness of current security measures. Citizens, civil society groups, and Members of Parliament are increasingly calling on the government and law enforcement agencies to take more robust steps to protect lives and curb the tide of violence.
