Soldier allegedly shoots immigration officer, motorcycle rider at Aflao border

A soldier has allegedly shot and injured an officer of the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) and a motorcycle rider following an altercation at the Beat 9 Border Post in Aflao in the Ketu South Municipality of the Volta Region.

The incident occurred at about 9 a.m. on Sunday, January 15, 2023, and reportedly stemmed from a disagreement over the nationality of a pillion rider on a motorcycle.

According to the Ketu South Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Maxwell Lugudor, who also chairs the Municipal Security Council, the Immigration officer signalled the motorcycle rider to stop so that the passenger could be profiled after suspecting that he was a foreign national.

The rider, however, insisted that the passenger was his brother and resisted attempts by the immigration officer to verify the passenger’s nationality.

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Mr Lugudor said the disagreement escalated into a physical confrontation between the immigration officer and the rider, prompting the officer to call a soldier stationed at the border for reinforcement.

According to the MCE, the situation deteriorated when the rider also engaged in a struggle with the soldier, during which the soldier discharged his service weapon.

The bullets struck both the motorcycle rider and the immigration officer in the legs.

The two injured men were rushed to the Aflao Municipal Hospital for treatment. The immigration officer was treated and discharged, while the rider, identified as 35-year-old Kwaku Tengey, was later referred to the Ho Teaching Hospital for further medical care.

The shooting has reportedly heightened tensions between residents and security personnel in the border town.

Mr Lugudor confirmed that investigations had been launched into the incident to establish the circumstances surrounding the shooting.