Community leaders and residents in the Talensi District of Ghana’s Upper East Region are calling on the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to take urgent action against a wave of armed robberies that have left several residents dead and the district gripped by fear.
In an open letter addressed to IGP Christian Tetteh Yohunu on January 2, 2026, development activist Solomon B. Zinekena urged the police to act decisively to restore safety in the area. The letter highlighted a spate of robberies targeting motorbikes, cash, gold, mobile phones, and other valuables, often accompanied by shootings and fatalities.
Zinekena detailed a December 30, 2025, incident along the Buugu–Earl International Group Mining Road in Gbane, where a young mason, Listowel Mbatoat Babamporhi from Baare, was shot and killed by armed robbers. “From 2022 to date, armed robbers have shot and killed not less than seven young people in Talensi, leaving several others maimed,” the letter stated.
According to the letter, the persistent insecurity has disrupted everyday life. Nurses and teachers reportedly decline postings in parts of the district due to safety concerns, businesses slow down after dark, and emergency referrals to the Talensi District Hospital are often delayed until morning. Residents described a de facto curfew imposed by fear of attacks.
Zinekena emphasized that while local security forces have generally performed well, the situation “requires leadership, experience, and commitment to flush out these notorious armed robbers who have no respect for dignity and human life.”
The development activist expressed readiness to collaborate lawfully with youth and other stakeholders to find a lasting solution to the crime wave, describing the robberies as “a malignant, cancerous tumor” threatening the district’s stability.
The call for action comes amid heightened anxiety among residents and local workers, with many fearing for their safety in the evenings and at night.
Source: A1 Radio | 101.1 Mhz | Mark Kwasi Ahumah Smith | Bolgatanga
