Ghanaian visual artist Ibrahim Mahama has vowed to take legal action against the Ghana Police Service following what he describes as a violent and unprovoked encounter with a police unit known as the Black Maria team.

Speaking at a press conference in Tamale on March 23, the founder of the Savannah Centre for Contemporary Art (SCCA) and Red Clay Studio alleged that he and others were assaulted during an incident on Saturday, March 21. Mahama specifically accused DSP Alhaji Jalil, whom he identified as the leader of the unit, of direct involvement in the confrontation.

“I am going to sue them. There is no two ways about that,” Mahama said, underscoring his determination to pursue justice. He framed the incident as part of a broader concern about police conduct, adding, “If they could do this to me, as known as I am, then one can imagine what they can do to ordinary citizens.”

Mahama also called on the Inspector General of Police to immediately disband the Black Maria team, describing their actions as “unprofessional” and potentially dangerous if left unchecked.
Challenging the police account that officers had intervened to protect him and his colleagues from mob violence, Mahama questioned the absence of arrests. “If they prevented mob justice on us, why didn’t they arrest the mob who were attacking us?” he asked.

He further alleged that DSP Jalil attempted to physically assault him at the Sakasaka Police Station, intensifying concerns about abuse of authority.

The allegations add to ongoing scrutiny of policing practices in Ghana, as calls grow for accountability and reform within specialized units.

Source:TheDotNews