Former Ghanaian MP Sarah Adwoa Safo has been injured after gunfire erupted during a visit to her late father’s residence in Kwabenya, Greater Accra Region. Police say she sustained a gunshot wound to the ear and her vehicle was hit by bullets. Authorities have arrested six private security guards and recovered several firearms, as investigations continue into the role of armed personnel at the scene and how the shooting unfolded. The incident has raised fresh concerns about the use of firearms by private security and the safety of political figures in Ghana.
Ghana Shooting Incident Leaves Former MP Sarah Adwoa Safo Injured as Police Probe Security Personnel and Firearm Use
Former Dome-Kwabenya Member of Parliament Sarah Adwoa Safo has been injured after gunmen opened fire during a visit to her late father’s residence in Kwabenya, in Ghana’s Greater Accra Region, in an incident now under active investigation by the Ghana Police Service.
According to police, the former lawmaker sustained a gunshot wound to her left ear after armed individuals allegedly discharged firearms during a confrontation at the residence on Sunday, June 21. Her vehicle was also hit multiple times by bullets, indicating what investigators describe as a rapidly escalated security incident involving heavy gunfire.
Authorities say preliminary findings suggest the incident occurred after Adwoa Safo arrived at the residence where a ceremony was ongoing and requested access to the premises. Police reports indicate that armed security personnel stationed at the location allegedly opened fire during the encounter, leading to the injury and damage to her vehicle.
While the full circumstances remain under investigation, officials are treating the incident as a serious security breach involving private security operatives and firearms deployed at a residential event.
POLICE LAUNCH FULL-SCALE INVESTIGATION
The Ghana Police Service says officers from the National Operations Directorate and the Intelligence Directorate responded to an emergency call from the scene and immediately secured the area before launching a coordinated investigation.
Six private security guards have since been arrested in connection with the shooting. Police say they are being questioned over their roles in the use of firearms during the incident and their deployment at the residence.
A search operation at the scene led to the recovery of multiple weapons and security equipment, including pump-action shotguns, a Taurus pistol loaded with seven rounds of 9mm ammunition, an additional magazine containing five rounds, and communication devices believed to have been used by the security team.
Investigators say the recovered materials are now being subjected to forensic examination as part of efforts to reconstruct the sequence of events and determine who gave the order to open fire.
QUESTIONS OVER SECURITY PROTOCOLS AND USE OF FORCE
The incident has raised broader concerns about how firearms are managed by private security personnel in Ghana, particularly in high-profile or politically linked environments.
Security analysts say the presence of multiple armed guards and the rapid escalation to gunfire points to possible lapses in command control, coordination, or threat assessment at the scene. Authorities are now expected to review whether proper protocols were followed and whether the use of lethal force was justified.
The shooting also highlights ongoing concerns about the regulation of private security operations, especially where firearms are involved in civilian settings.
POLITICAL SECURITY UNDER SCRUTINY
The attack has renewed debate over the safety of political figures in Ghana, where incidents involving violence against politicians have periodically raised alarm over security preparedness and enforcement.
In past years, Ghana has recorded several high-profile attacks, including the killing of former MP Ekow Quansah Hayford during an election campaign in 2020, an incident that intensified calls for stronger protection of public officials.
While Ghana is generally regarded as one of the more stable democracies in West Africa, isolated violent incidents involving political actors continue to raise concerns about gaps in protection and intelligence response.
INVESTIGATION CONTINUES
The Ghana Police Service says investigations into the Kwabenya shooting remain ongoing, with a focus on establishing the exact chain of events, identifying who authorised the use of firearms, and determining whether the shooting was a response to perceived threat or a breakdown in security control.
Authorities say further arrests are possible as forensic analysis and witness statements are reviewed.
For now, the incident remains a developing case that has placed renewed scrutiny on private security practices, firearm accountability, and the safety of high-profile individuals in Ghana.
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