The Ghana Police Service has handed over investigations into the alleged assault of renowned visual artist Ibrahim Mahama to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters.
The decision followed a high-level meeting on March 26, 2026, involving the Inspector-General of Police, members of the Police Management Board, and Mr. Mahama.
According to the Director of Public Affairs, Assistant Commissioner of Police Grace Ansah-Akrofi, the IGP personally heard Mr. Mahama’s account before directing the CID to take over the case from the Regional Command. She also confirmed that the Director-General of the Police Professional Standards Bureau has been tasked to fast-track a parallel inquiry into the conduct of the officers involved.
“Any persons found culpable will be taken through the due process of the law,” ACP Ansah-Akrofi stated.
Prior to the meeting, the Regional Command had already collected statements from Mr. Mahama and his associates, visited the scene, and engaged him at his residence. Police authorities have assured the artist of a thorough investigation and urged the public to remain calm as the process unfolds.
The incident reportedly occurred on March 21, 2026, shortly after Mr. Mahama attended Eid-ul-Fitr prayers at a mosque in Tamale. His vehicle was stopped near the Mariam Hotel junction during what was described as a routine police check, which allegedly escalated.
Mr. Mahama claims officers from the IGP’s Special Operations Team, known as the Black Maria, boarded his bus, forced him to unlock his phone, deleted footage he had recorded, and assaulted him. He reported sustaining injuries including a broken tooth, cut lips, rib pain, and recurring headaches, for which he received treatment at a private health facility in Tamale.
At a press briefing on March 23, Mr. Mahama said the incident disrupted several international commitments, including lectures at the Royal College of Art, the University of Cambridge, and the University of Oxford, as well as trips to Helsinki, Amsterdam, and South Africa. He indicated his intention to pursue legal action.
The police, however, have disputed parts of his account. Deputy Superintendent of Police Bawah Abdul Jalil described the operation as a traffic enforcement exercise that escalated due to the conduct of the driver. Conflicting reports have also emerged about the presence of the Black Maria unit. While the Northern Regional Police Command said the unit had been withdrawn from the region on March 5, DSP Jalil maintained it was present during the March 21 operation.
The ongoing CID investigations are expected to clarify the circumstances surrounding the incident.
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