Two Police Officers shot on duty by unknown gunmen in Bolgatanga

Two Policemen, Constables Godfred Amartey and Lois Boateng of the Special Weapon and Tactics (SWAT) unit of the Ghana Police Service in Bolgatanga were on Monday shot and wounded by unknown gunmen while on guard duties.

The officers were on duty at Atulbabisi, a section of Bolgatanga, when an issue erupted between some people in the area.

The officers intervene to settle the matter but to their dismay, some people starting shooting at them and in the process constable Amartey sustained severe gunshot wounds on his left chest, eye, and right arm while constable Boateng sustained wounds on the right arm.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Mr Osei Kweku Ampofo-Duku, Upper East Regional Police Commander who confirmed the incident in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at Bolgatanga said both men are currently on admission at the Regional Hospital and are responding to treatment.

DCOP Ampofo-Duku described the shooting attack on the policemen as unwarranted and said if such unfortunate acts should continue the Police Administration would have no choice than to withdraw the men from their posts.

The Regional Commander said the attack was an unprovoked one, and that the men are at the scene to provide security, only to be attacked. “Police duty was to protect lives and property and if they would risk their lives to be killed, we will advise ourselves”, he added.

He called on the people to embrace peace to ensure development for present and unborn generations, saying Bolgatanga is a peace-loving area and advised the people not to mar the beauty and peace of the area with violence.

The commander urged the people to use channels such as the law courts to address their grievances instead of resorting to conflicts as they do not augur well for the development of the area.

He said the police were investigating the incident and would bring the perpetrators to book.