The death toll from Tuesday’s explosion involving a tricycle allegedly transporting suspected explosives at Hamile in the Upper West Region has increased to three, with a Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) officer and two civilians confirmed dead.
JoyNews Upper West Regional Correspondent, Rafiq Salam, reports that the two civilians died following the incident, bringing the total number of fatalities to three. Ten other individuals also sustained injuries and are currently receiving medical attention.
The explosion occurred on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, after security personnel reportedly pursued a tricycle suspected of carrying explosive materials along an unauthorised route within the border community.
Preliminary accounts indicate that the occupants of the tricycle allegedly refused to stop after encountering security officers at a checkpoint, prompting a pursuit that subsequently ended in the devastating explosion.
The incident claimed the life of an immigration officer, while another officer reportedly suffered critical injuries and was rushed for medical treatment.
The development has heightened tensions within Hamile, where concerned residents are said to have gathered at the Ghana Immigration Service checkpoint to demand the withdrawal of immigration personnel from the community.
In response to the escalating situation, military personnel have reportedly been deployed to the area to reinforce security and prevent further disturbances.
According to JoyNews correspondent Rafiq Salam, the two civilian deaths resulted from stray bullets allegedly fired by military personnel, while the immigration officer lost his life as a direct consequence of the explosion.
Meanwhile, the government has imposed an 11 hour curfew on Hamile Township and neighbouring communities within the Lambussie District of the Upper West Region following the incident.
The restriction is intended to address the security concerns arising from the explosion and the subsequent tensions between residents and security personnel.
The incident has raised fresh concerns about border security, the transportation of potentially dangerous explosive materials and the safety of communities situated along Ghana’s frontier.
Authorities are expected to establish the precise circumstances surrounding the explosion, including the nature of the suspected explosives, the events leading to the pursuit and the circumstances under which the two civilians were reportedly struck by stray bullets.
