Ghanaian families demand probe into deaths in police custody

Families of Amadu Apiiga and Philip Avoabilla are demanding an independent investigation into the deaths of the two men, who reportedly died while in the custody of the Ghana Police Service in the Upper East Region.

The families have petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, the Minister for the Interior, and the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ). They dispute the police account that the men died during a gun battle in the Tilli Forest while being escorted to retrieve concealed weapons. The family spokesperson, Awintuam Sampson, questioned how individuals allegedly under restraint could engage in a firefight with armed officers.

According to the families, the men were arrested at their home in Binaba on September 19, 2026. They claim that when relatives visited the police station to inquire about their whereabouts, they were initially given no information before eventually being told the men had died. The petitioners are seeking specific details regarding the timing and location of the arrests, the reasons for detention, and the circumstances of the deaths.