The Konkomba Youth Association (KOYA) has petitioned the North East Regional Coordinating Council, calling for a full and independent investigation into the shooting death of 51-year-old Mawutor Banakar at a police checkpoint near Gbintri in the East Mamprusi Municipality. The tragic incident reportedly occurred around 11 a.m. on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, along the Gushegu–Gbintri road.
Eyewitnesses, including the victim’s brother, alleged that Banakar was shot by an armed police officer following a heated exchange over the payment of a bribe. According to sources, the officers at the scene quickly transported the severely wounded man to the Baptist Medical Centre in Nalerigu, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
The North East Regional Police Command later confirmed the shooting but offered a different account. In a statement signed by DSP Robert Anabiik Anmain, the police claimed the deceased resisted a search, grabbed an officer’s weapon, and attempted to disarm him, resulting in an accidental discharge that fatally struck the victim.
KOYA and the victim’s family have rejected the police’s explanation, describing it as inconsistent with eyewitness testimony. In their petition to the Regional Minister and the Ghana Police Service, the group demanded the formation of a Commission of Enquiry to ensure a transparent probe. The association also urged authorities to end extortion at police checkpoints, particularly on market days across the region.
Submitting the petition in Nalerigu, KOYA’s Regional President, Charles Ningarim, appealed for calm among the youth, urging them to avoid retaliation and allow due process to take its course. He stressed that justice for Mr. Banakar must be pursued through lawful and peaceful means.
