By Murtala Issah
A sharp contradiction has emerged between the Ghana Police Service Northern Regional Command and the leader of the controversial “Black Maria” taskforce over their alleged involvement in an incident that left renowned Ghanaian artist Ibrahim Mahama claiming he was assaulted during Eid-ul-Fitr celebrations in Tamale on Saturday.
In its official release, the Regional Command categorically denied the team’s involvement, stating that “claims in a section of the media that the Special Operations Team (the Black Maria) was involved in this case are false, since the team has been out of the Northern Region following their withdrawal on Thursday, 5 March 2026.”
However, DSP Abdul Jalil’s account directly contradicts this position. In his statement, he noted that “Muslim personnel within the IGP Special Operations Team joined their team commander in the Northern Region to celebrate the occasion,” adding that the team actively intervened in a traffic situation in Tamale which escalated into an arrest.
According to him, “despite repeated appeals, the driver defiantly refused,” forcing officers to act.
He explained that “after persistent refusal, the team gained access to the vehicle. During the subsequent arrest, the suspect resisted, leading to a brief struggle before he was eventually subdued.”
This version of events stands in stark contrast not only to the Police Command’s denial of the team’s presence, but also to the account given by Ibrahim Mahama, who alleges he was subjected to excessive force. He told GBC News: “They entered our bus and started punching us. They even broke my teeth before taking us to the police station to beat us more.”
The divergence raises critical questions: if the taskforce had indeed been withdrawn, as the Police Command maintains, under whose authority was DSP Abdul Jalil and his team operating in Tamale on the day? And if his team was present, why has the Regional Command distanced itself so firmly from their actions?
Equally significant is the difference in tone between the two narratives. The commander’s statement frames the incident as one of indiscipline and provocation, stressing that the team “exercised a high level of restraint and professionalism.” In contrast, Mahama’s account alleges brutality, reinforcing longstanding public concerns about the conduct of the disbanded taskforce.
The Police Command, while denying the team’s involvement, has pledged to investigate the incident and update the public in due course.
At the heart of the controversy is not just what transpired at the Tamale intersection, but whether a unit officially withdrawn from the region may have continued operating, raising broader concerns about command, control and accountability within specialised police operations.
More Stories Here
Source:
www.gbcghanaonline.com
