The Government of Ghana has begun the emergency evacuation of students from conflict-hit areas of Bawku, Nalerigu, and surrounding communities following rising threats to their safety in the ongoing ethnic tensions in the region.
The move comes after disturbing reports of targeted attacks on students, including a fatal shooting incident at Nalerigu Senior High School on Saturday night, July 26, in which two students were killed by unknown assailants on campus.
In a statement issued on Sunday, July 27, Government Spokesperson, Felix Kwakye Ofosu confirmed that the state has launched a coordinated evacuation exercise to remove students from all high-risk educational institutions in the area.
“Government wants to stress that… the curfew is intended to create an environment conducive to the evacuation of all students in various educational institutions in affected areas, some of whom have been unfortunately targeted in the conflict,” he announced.
A 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. curfew has been imposed to allow security agencies to manage the evacuation safely while preventing further escalation of violence. Security personnel have been deployed across key points to provide protection for students and support the evacuation process.
The exact number of students to be evacuated has not yet been disclosed, but the affected institutions include Senior High Schools and other institutions in conflict-prone zones.
The Bawku conflict, which has intensified in recent months, continues to disrupt life in the Upper East and North East regions, with recent attacks increasingly targeting civilians in schools and residential areas. The evacuation marks a critical shift in government response, prioritising the protection of vulnerable youth amid worsening insecurity.
Further updates are expected as the operation continues.