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Minister of National Security, Albert Kan-Dapaah, has insisted that the October 28, 2023 joint operation in Garu in the Upper East Region by his ministry and the Ghana Armed Forces was to retrieve firearms used by irate youth to attack national security officials.

According to him, some irate youth attacked a team of five counter-terrorism intelligence officers who were sent there for a critical operation in Garu.

Briefing Parliament on the incident, the minister said upon arrival in Garu, the team was besieged by some irate youth who were armed with weapons, including AK47 assault rifles.

“Despite initial attempts to introduce themselves as national security personnel, the irate youth proceeded to attack the officers by firing multiple gunshots [directed] at a black Toyota Land Cruiser in which the officers were occupied,” he stated.

Kan-Dapaah continued, “Following an escalation of the attack on their vehicle, the officers drove to the Garu Police Station to seek refuge.”

He narrated that the irate youth then pursued the officers and encircled the police station and fired multiple shots at same.

“The timely intervention of personnel of the Ghana Armed Forces enabled the safe evacuation of the national security personnel from the Garu Police Station,” he noted.

“The House will agree with me that the attack on the national security personnel and the Garu Police Station was reprehensible and must be condemned in no uncertain terms,” he added.

According to the minister, actions like this on security personnel will be deemed attacks on the state in many other jurisdictions.

“Subsequent to all these, on Saturday, October 28, 2023, the Ministry of National Security and the Ghana Armed Forces conducted a joint operation in Garu to seize weapons used by the irate youth to attack the national security personnel.

“In the aftermath of the joint operation, reports have emerged in respect of excesses by the personnel who conducted the operation,” the minister said.

He concluded, “This aspect of the matter is currently before the court. It will therefore be inappropriate for me to comment on the matter as it will amount to contempt of court.”