The Ghana Police Service has firmly denied any allegations suggesting they were facilitating the smuggling of the consignment that led to a clash with the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).
A misunderstanding involving personnel from the Ghana Armed Forces, the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority, and the Ghana Police Service erupted on October 9, 2024, over an intercepted shipment of smuggled cocoa bags at the Missiga security checkpoint in Bawku, Upper East Region.
The Ghana Police Service stated that they intercepted the smuggled cocoa consignment based on intelligence reports and were escorting the truck to the Bawku Divisional Police Command.
Sources earlier indicated that tensions escalated when Customs insisted on investigating the truck, leading to a heated standoff with the Police. This confrontation quickly turned violent, resulting in an exchange of gunfire between the two security agencies. Military officers were then called in to help de-escalate the situation.
But the Police have clarified that “it is untrue that the Police were in any way facilitating the smuggled consignments, as being claimed.”
The Police emphasized that it had intercepted smuggled cocoa beans on two occasions within the region, and the intercepted consignments were handed over to COCOBOD, while the suspects are currently being prosecuted by its outfit.
In response to the incident, the leadership of the three security agencies intervened promptly at the national level to resolve the conflict and restore cooperation among them.
The Regional Security Council (REGSEC), chaired by the Upper East Regional Minister, is also holding meetings with personnel and their leaders to further support the efforts made at the national level.
