Family petitions IGP, CHRAJ over reported deaths of two men in Police custody in Upper East

The families of Amadu Apiiga and Philip Avobilla have petitioned the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), the Minister for the Interior and the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), calling for a full and independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the arrest and reported deaths of the two men while in police custody.

In a petition dated September 24, 2026, the families stated that the two men were arrested by officers of the Ghana Police Service on Friday, September 19, 2026, from their community and taken to the Upper East Regional Police Headquarters in Bolgatanga.

According to the families, neither man returned home after the arrest.

They said subsequent attempts to establish the whereabouts and condition of their relatives yielded no clear information. When the families visited the police station on September 22, 2026, they claimed that officers did not provide a satisfactory explanation regarding the men's whereabouts.

The families said they were subsequently informed that the two men had died, with the deaths reportedly linked to a police operation involving suspected armed robbers. However, they said they had not been provided with details about where the bodies were being kept or the circumstances that led to their deaths.

"Our relatives were taken into custody alive, and we expected the police to provide clear information about their treatment, detention, movements and eventual deaths. We therefore believe that the circumstances require proper clarification," the petition stated.

Families make nine demands
Signed on behalf of the families and witnessed by the Sub-Chief of the community, Naaba Atinbilla Akpal, the petition seeks detailed information about the incident.

The families are demanding clarification on the exact time, location and circumstances of the arrests, the reasons for the arrests and the offences for which the two men were being held.

They are also asking the authorities to disclose the facility where the men were detained, as well as the names and ranks of the officers responsible for their arrest and custody.

The families further want an explanation of the circumstances surrounding the reported deaths, the exact location of the bodies and whether post-mortem examinations have been conducted.

They are also seeking information on whether police custody records, occurrence book entries, photographs or videos relating to the men exist, as well as the official police report on the incident.

In addition, the families are asking for the bodies to be released to them for identification and want all relevant records and evidence preserved pending the outcome of the investigation.

They argued that Articles 13 and 19 of the 1992 Constitution protect the right to life and guarantee the presumption of innocence until a person is proven guilty by a competent court.

"We are not seeking to obstruct any legitimate police investigation. We are, however, deeply concerned about the lack of clear information. We seek truth and accountability," the family stated.

The Ghana Police Service has not yet publicly commented on the matter. Efforts to obtain a response from the Upper East Regional Police Command are ongoing.