Lecturer Allegedly Beaten to Death by Soldiers in Bawku

A lecturer at Gbewaa College of Education in Pusiga in the Upper East Region, Issaka Abdulai, has died following an alleged assault by military personnel deployed to the Bawku area.

Abdulai, a lecturer with the college’s Science Department, reportedly died on Friday, September 11, 2026, after an incident involving personnel of the Joint Task Force (JTF).

Management of the college confirmed his death in a statement issued on Saturday, September 12, but did not provide details on what led to the alleged assault or the circumstances surrounding his death.

However, it was reported that Abdulai was allegedly arrested while riding his motorcycle during curfew hours. His death subsequently sparked protests in Pusiga on Saturday morning, with angry residents taking to the streets to demand answers.

Some protesters reportedly blocked roads and set tyres on fire as tensions rose over the lecturer’s death and the conduct of security personnel operating in the area.

The Kusaug Youth Movement has strongly condemned the alleged killing, claiming Abdulai was unarmed and was returning home from work when he was attacked.

In a strong worded statement issued by the movement, they described the incident as unlawful and called on the government to urgently intervene and ensure an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.

“The Kusaug Youth Movement has received with shock, deep pain, and uncontrollable anger, news of yet another barbaric and murderous act by personnel of the Ghana Armed Forces in Bawku. On the night of September 11, 2026, a young, unarmed lecturer of Gbewaa College of Education, Pusiga, was brutally assaulted to death by soldiers of the Joint Task Force (JTF) deployed to maintain peace in Bawku.

His only “crime” was riding his motorcycle home from work, a few minutes into the curfew hours. We condemn this act as state-sanctioned murder, cowardly, unlawful, and inhumane. This is not law enforcement. This is the deliberate killing of the very people you were sent to protect. THE LAW IS CLEAR.

THE MILITARY BROKE IT. The Law Demands ARREST, Not Assault and Killing. Section 4 of the Public Order Act, 1994 (Act 491) is unambiguous: A curfew violator shall be ARRESTED without warrant. The law does not prescribe beating. It does not prescribe torture. It does not prescribe execution. “, part of the statement read.

The movement has called for an independent investigation by the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) and an independent panel of the Military High Command. It also wants officers allegedly involved identified, interdicted and prosecuted if found culpable.