- 18-year-old girl fatally shot during Bimbilla Fire Festival procession
- Victim died instantly; body taken to Bimbilla Hospital morgue
- Dagbon King had banned festival in key areas due to safety concerns
An 18-year-old student tragically lost her life after being struck in the head by a bullet during a Fire Festival procession in Bimbilla, Nanumba North Municipality.
The victim was part of a group marching toward Wampu to dispose of their flaming torches—a traditional part of the Fire Festival celebrations—when the incident occurred.
According to reports, an unidentified individual carrying a locally manufactured single-barrel gun accidentally discharged the weapon, fatally hitting the girl in the head. She died instantly at the scene.
Police were quickly alerted and transported the body to the Bimbilla Hospital morgue. The identity of the shooter remains unknown, and investigations are ongoing.
The incident adds to growing concerns about the use of live ammunition during Fire Festival celebrations, which have been repeatedly criticized due to recurring injuries and fatalities.
In anticipation of such risks, the Overlord of Dagbon, Ndan Ya-Na Abukari II, had imposed a ban on this year’s celebrations in the Greater Tamale Metropolis and Sagnarigu Municipality. Despite the ban, the festival went ahead in other communities, including Bimbilla.
The girl has since been buried according to Islamic traditions.
The tragedy occurred just days after the Ghana National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons issued a public warning, especially targeting residents in northern regions, urging restraint during the Fire Festival.
In a statement signed by Acting Executive Secretary Dr. Adam Bonaa, the Commission stressed that:
- Firearms are not toys, and mishandling them can cost lives.
- Unauthorized possession and use of guns is illegal and punishable.
- The true spirit of the Fire Festival should be celebrated without violence.
“The reckless use of firearms during festivities poses serious risks, including accidental shootings, injuries, and deaths,” the Commission warned.
