Artist Ibrahim Mahama Threatens Legal Action Over Alleged Police Assault

Ghanaian artist Ibrahim Mahama has threatened legal action against members of the Black Maria, the Inspector-General of Police’s Special Operations Team, following his alleged assault.

Speaking at a press conference in Tamale on Monday, March 23, Mr Mahama said the decision to pursue legal action goes beyond his personal experience.

“Certainly, we are considering legal action. It’s very important. It’s a no-brainer. We have to do it,” he said.

“It’s not for me, but it’s actually for everyone else because if this could happen to me, as well-known as I am, then what about the people on the street?” Who’s going to speak for that person? So, we have to do it for the benefit of the collective society that we’re in.”

He said the encounter left him seriously injured and forced him to cancel several international engagements, stressing that the matter would not be overlooked.

Detailing the impact, Mr Mahama said the injuries had disrupted both his health and professional commitments.

“That evening, I was meant to travel to the UK because I had to go and give some lectures in some schools from Cambridge to Oxford to the Royal College in London and also continue to Helsinki for work and then to Amsterdam and then to South Africa before coming home,” he said.

“But all those trips have to be cancelled, and I don’t think I can even travel for the next month because the last few days I have not even eaten solid food because my lips are all bruised, and three of my teeth are broken; I have sores in my mouth.”

He added, “Currently, it has put my entire life on hold.”

Mr Mahama also raised concerns about the conduct of the unit, alleging a pattern of abuse.

“Of course, we’ve heard many stories about the same unit and the brutalities,” he said. “That’s why they could say that we could kill you and nothing would happen.”

He warned that such incidents could discourage young people from contributing to national development.

“If at the end of the day, through these brutal actions, a lot of us young people will not feel like we need to stay in a place like this, then it’s rather on the bad side of justice,” he said.

The Black Maria team has denied the allegations, stating that the incident occurred during a traffic enforcement operation involving a driver who allegedly refused to comply.

The unit also released a video showing a man identified as Mr Mahama’s uncle pleading with officers.

However, Mr Mahama dismissed the footage, claiming it had been manipulated to “garner public sympathy”.

Mr Mahama, founder of the Savannah Centre for Contemporary Art (SCCA) and chief executive officer of Red Clay, further alleged that he was assaulted by police officers on Saturday morning while returning from the mosque in Tamale.

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