Official News Report | Eye on Western North Digital
The Sefwi Asawinso Development Association (SADA) has written to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), demanding an independent, transparent, and impartial investigation into the shooting incident at Sefwi Sayerano in the Juaboso District that has claimed three lives.
In an open letter signed by SADA, the association said it was writing “with a deep sense of grief, concern, and responsibility” on behalf of citizens of the Western North Region following the tragic events.
The letter noted that the reported deaths of innocent civilians and injuries sustained during a police operation have left the entire region in shock.
While acknowledging the mandate of the Ghana Police Service to maintain law and order, SADA stressed that the responsibility “must always be exercised with professionalism, restraint, respect for human dignity, and strict adherence to the laws of Ghana.”
Citing eyewitness accounts and public information, SADA alleged that some of the deceased were not the intended targets of the operation.
“Reports indicate that among the deceased were a 64-year-old farmer who was on his way to his farm, a widow, and a shopkeeper who later succumbed to his injuries after being struck by a bullet while at his shop,” the letter stated.
The association posed critical questions: Against whom was lethal force directed? Were lawful procedures for use of firearms observed? Were innocent bystanders protected? And could the tragedy have been prevented through better operational judgment?
SADA further noted that the incident has eroded public confidence, adding that it is not the first time serious allegations have been raised against some police officers in parts of the Western North Region over alleged excessive use of force and intimidation.
SADA’s 6 Key Demands
To restore public trust, the association is calling on the IGP to:
- Institute a fully independent, transparent, and impartial investigation supervised by appropriate national police oversight structures.
- Pay a personal visit* to the affected communities to engage bereaved families, traditional authorities, opinion leaders, and residents.
- Ensure swift prosecution or disciplinary action against any officer found to have acted unlawfully.
- Conduct a comprehensive review of operational tactics, crowd-control procedures, and use-of-force protocols within the Western North Regional Police Command.
- Provide enhanced training in human rights, conflict de-escalation, and community policing for officers serving in the region.
6.Offer appropriate support and assistance for victims and their families where investigations establish wrongdoing.
SADA said while it unequivocally condemns any destruction of public property or acts of retaliation that followed the incident, “public trust can only be restored when justice is impartial and accountability applies to everyone, regardless of rank or position.”
“The people of Western North desire peace. We believe in the rule of law. We reject violence from every quarter. However, lasting peace cannot exist without justice, professionalism, accountability, and mutual respect between law enforcement officers and the communities they serve,” the letter added.
The Ghana Police Service has already interdicted eight officers allegedly involved in the incident and directed the Police Professional Standards Bureau (PPSB) to conduct a full investigation.
SADA concluded: “Mr. Inspector-General, we respectfully urge your office to treat this matter with the urgency, seriousness, and transparency it deserves. History will remember not only the tragedy itself but also how the leadership of the Ghana Police Service responded to it.”
Signed: SADA