In Nyankpala, a town in Ghana’s Tolon District, a group of concerned residents has formally petitioned state authorities to accelerate the investigation into the December 7, 2024 violence that claimed the life of Shaibu Haruna, popularly known as Alhaji, and left several others injured. The petition, addressed to the President, the Ministry of the Interior, the Ghana Police Service, the Attorney General, the Ministry of Justice and the Tolon District Chief Executive, calls for a more urgent and resource‑rich inquiry.
The group acknowledges that the Ghana Police Service has indicated that investigations are ongoing and that authorities have engaged stakeholders since the incident. However, they argue that the pace of the investigation is unsatisfactory, especially nearly two years after the event. They cite concerns over the preservation of evidence, the availability and recollection of witnesses, and the continued uncertainty faced by affected families.
“We humbly, therefore, believe that the investigation should receive the necessary attention and resources to enable investigators to pursue credible leads and establish the facts of the matter,” a spokesperson for the Concerned NDC Youth in the Nyankpala Zone said at a news conference.
At the same conference, Alhassan Alhassan, the spokesperson, highlighted a Government Accountability Series briefing held on August 24, 2026, in which Interior Minister Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka addressed efforts to locate suspects linked to the case. He quoted the minister’s remark that the suspect description provided during the briefing may not match the information available to authorities, urging a review of the description against official records and a public clarification if necessary.
Alhassan added that the petition is not intended to interfere with investigators or the courts but to demand a credible process that establishes the facts. He outlined seven actions the authorities should take, including expediting the investigation, providing investigators with necessary support, reviewing the suspect’s description, offering timely updates to the affected family while safeguarding sensitive information, protecting witnesses from intimidation, acting on credible evidence, and responding to the petition in writing within 30 days.
The petition underscores the community’s demand for a thorough, professional, and fair investigation, with any suspected individuals dealt with in accordance with Ghanaian law. The authorities’ response remains pending as the petition circulates through the relevant governmental channels.
