Police arrest man over alleged inciting remarks amid Bawku tensions

The Ghana Police Service has arrested a man accused of making comments authorities say could inflame tensions and threaten public peace in Bawku and nearby communities, an area that has experienced recurring unrest in recent years.

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The suspect, identified by police as Raphael Azare Kariyama, was picked up through what officials described as an intelligence-led operation targeting individuals suspected of spreading inflammatory or violent content.

In a statement issued by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on January 31, 2026, police said:

According to the CID, the operation forms part of broader efforts to monitor and curb the spread of content that incites violence or threatens public order and national security. Kariyama is currently in custody and is expected to be put before court.

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The arrest comes against the backdrop of long-standing tensions in Bawku, a municipality in the Upper East Region that has periodically witnessed violence linked to chieftaincy and ethnic disputes.

The area has, at various times, been placed under curfew and heightened security measures as authorities work to prevent clashes and protect lives and property.

Security authorities say comments, particularly those shared widely on social media, can quickly escalate tensions in already sensitive communities, prompting law enforcement to clamp down on inflammatory rhetoric.

The Police Service used the occasion to caution the public against spreading provocative content.

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Authorities say investigations are ongoing, and further arrests may follow if others are found to be linked to the alleged remarks.