They insisted the team is crucial for maintaining safety and order in the region
Traders in Bolgatanga, the Upper East Regional capital, staged a peaceful demonstration on Saturday, July 18, 2026, calling on the Inspector-General of Police to reverse a decision to withdraw the Special Operations Team, popularly known as the Black Maria, from the region.
According to a report by Dreamz FM, the demonstrators, made up largely of traders and residents, marched through parts of the municipality before presenting a formal petition to authorities, insisting that the continued presence of the elite security team is crucial for maintaining safety and order in the region.
The petition was received by the Municipal Chief Executive for Bolgatanga, Roland Ayoo, on behalf of the Upper East Regional Minister, Akamugri Donatus Atanga.
Addressing the crowd, Ayoo assured the demonstrators that their concerns would be forwarded to the appropriate authorities for consideration, stressing that government values citizen input and would ensure the issues raised are given the attention they deserve.
The protest reflects the deep impact the team made during its deployment in the region. The Special Operations Team conducted coordinated intelligence-led operations in the Upper East Region from May 20, 2026, targeting narcotics trafficking, violent crimes and cross-border criminal networks.
The 'sins' of Black Maria
The first operation at Paga within the Ghana-Burkina Faso border buffer zone alone resulted in the arrest of 40 suspects, including Ghanaians, Nigerians, Burkinabés, a Malian and a Togolese national.
A subsequent ten-day intelligence-led swoop from May 25 to June 3, 2026, extended operations across Bolgatanga, Tongo, Bongo and the Nabdam District, resulting in dozens more arrests and the recovery of narcotic substances, motorbikes and other criminal paraphernalia.
The demonstration ended peacefully after the petition was formally presented, with traders expressing hope that the IGP and relevant authorities will give favourable consideration to their request to retain the Black Maria Special Operations Team in the Upper East Region.
Watch the video below:
Traders in Bolgatanga, the Upper East Regional capital, have taken to the streets to protest the withdrawal of the Inspector-General of Police’s (IGP) Special Operations Team from the region.
— SIKAOFFICIAL🦍 (@SIKAOFFICIAL1) July 18, 2026
The traders are appealing to the IGP to reconsider the decision and maintain the unit’s… pic.twitter.com/myGoGNGUxH
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