Government has renewed a curfew on Sampa Township in the Jaman North District of the Bono Region, restricting movement from 10:00 pm to 4:00 am daily as part of ongoing efforts to stabilise the area amid security tensions.
The directive, issued by the Ministry of the Interior under Executive Instrument and signed by Interior Minister Muntaka Mohammed Mubarak, takes effect from Thursday, March 26, 2026. The decision was taken on the advice of the Bono Regional Security Council, reflecting continued concerns about peace and order in the township.
Authorities say the renewed curfew is aimed at preventing further escalation of disturbances and ensuring that security agencies have better control over nighttime movement, which is often a sensitive period in areas experiencing local tensions.
Alongside the curfew, the government has imposed a strict ban on the possession of arms, ammunition, and any offensive weapons within Sampa and its surrounding communities. Security agencies have been authorised to arrest and prosecute anyone found violating the directive, signalling a hardline approach to enforcement.
The Interior Ministry has urged traditional leaders, opinion leaders, youth groups, and residents to remain calm and resolve grievances through peaceful and lawful means rather than confrontation. Officials emphasised that dialogue remains the preferred path for addressing underlying disputes affecting the community.
While the statement did not outline the specific trigger for the renewed restrictions, curfews in Ghana are typically imposed in response to chieftaincy disputes, communal tensions, or threats to public order. The Bono Region has previously experienced intermittent security interventions linked to local leadership conflicts and disputes over traditional authority structures.
Security analysts often note that curfews in such contexts are intended as temporary stabilisation tools rather than long term solutions. They help reduce the risk of night time violence while broader mediation efforts continue between stakeholders, including chiefs, elders, and regional security officials.
The government’s decision also reflects a broader pattern of preventive security management across the country, where regional security councils work with the Interior Ministry to respond quickly to emerging threats before they escalate into wider conflict.
Residents in Sampa are expected to comply with the restrictions, as enforcement is typically carried out jointly by the Ghana Police Service and other security agencies stationed in the district. Movement during restricted hours without valid authorisation is considered a breach of public order regulations.
The Interior Ministry reiterated its commitment to restoring full peace in the area and encouraged community cooperation to support ongoing security operations. Officials maintain that sustained calm will depend not only on enforcement but also on the willingness of local actors to engage in peaceful resolution mechanisms.
For now, the renewed curfew places Sampa under heightened security monitoring, with authorities signalling that the measure will remain in place until conditions are deemed stable enough for normal movement to resume.