Interior Minister Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak Eases Motorbike Restrictions in Bawku Municipality

The Ministry of the Interior has announced a significant easing of motorbike riding restrictions in the Bawku Municipality and its surrounding areas, effective Tuesday, August 25, 2026. Under the new directive, both men and women are now permitted to use motorbikes between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. daily. This decision, which replaces more stringent previous limitations on mobility, follows a positive assessment of the security situation in the Upper East Region by the National Security Council. The move is seen as a major step toward restoring daily economic and social activities in a region that has faced long-standing security challenges.

Interior Minister Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak confirmed that while mobility has been improved during daylight hours, other critical security measures remain firmly in place to prevent a resurgence of violence. A nightly curfew spanning from 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. continues to be enforced throughout the municipality to ensure public safety. Furthermore, the government has maintained a total ban on the possession and carrying of arms, ammunition, or any offensive weapons. Authorities have warned that strict penalties will be applied to anyone found violating these standing orders, and security agencies remain on high alert to maintain order.

The easing of the ban is part of the Mahama administration's broader strategy to restore normalcy and foster sustainable peace in the conflict-prone area. Minister Mohammed-Mubarak emphasized the importance of ongoing peace efforts, noting that the government is working closely with traditional and community leaders to encourage dialogue and reconciliation. The Minister also indicated that the National Security Council is monitoring other regions under similar restrictions, suggesting that if security improvements continue to stabilize, further relaxations of curfews and bans may be considered for other parts of the country.

In light of the new directive, the government is urging residents and traditional authorities to exercise maximum restraint and cooperate fully with security agencies to protect the relative peace achieved so far. Officials have called on all stakeholders to pursue non-violent solutions to local challenges and emphasized that the sustainability of these relaxed measures depends on the continued cooperation of the community. Residents are encouraged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the police as the municipality transitions toward a more open and mobile environment.