Emergency Evacuation Underway for Students in Conflict-Hit Bawku and Nalerigu
Bawku/Nalerigu, Ghana – 27 July, 2025 – The Mahama administration has initiated an emergency evacuation of students from Bawku, Nalerigu, and surrounding areas due to escalating ethnic tensions and targeted attacks on students. This decision follows a deadly shooting incident at Nalerigu Senior High School, where two students were killed by unknown gunmen on campus.
Government Spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu confirmed the evacuation exercise, stating that the curfew imposed from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. aims to facilitate a safe evacuation process. Security personnel have been deployed to key points to protect students and support the evacuation.
The Bawku conflict, rooted in a long-standing chieftaincy dispute between the Kusasi and Mamprusi ethnic groups, has resulted in recurrent violence and loss of life in the Upper East Region. Despite previous mediation efforts, the conflict has intensified in recent months, with civilians, including students, being targeted.
The government's decision to evacuate students marks a critical shift in response to the conflict, prioritizing the protection of vulnerable youth amid worsening insecurity. The deployment of Armed Forces aims to maintain law and order, while the curfew is intended to prevent further escalation of violence.
