Stray Bullet Kills One Person In Fire Festival Celebrations

One person has been confirmed dead in Bimbilla following the discharge of firearms during the celebration of the Fire Festival (Bugum Chugu) on Saturday, July 5. The victim, identified as Fatima, a student of Bimbilla Senior High School, was reportedly hit in the neck by a stray bullet and died instantly. The bullet was allegedly fired by a celebrant using a small arm during the festivities. Her body has since been conveyed to the hospital morgue by security personnel.

Eyewitnesses say the celebrations were marked by widespread gunfire and the use of explosives, despite earlier warnings from the Municipal Security Council urging participants to refrain from discharging firearms or using dangerous implements. The tragic incident comes just days after the Ghana National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons issued a strong public advisory urging citizens particularly in the northern regions to say no to the display and misuse of small arms during the Fire Festival.

In a statement signed by Acting Executive Secretary, Dr. Adam Bonaa, the Commission reminded the public that:

Firearms are not toys, and their misuse endangers lives. Unauthorized possession and firing of guns is illegal and punishable by law. The spirit of the Fire Festival should be upheld without violence.

The reckless use of firearms during celebrations poses grave risks, including accidental shootings, injuries, and fatalities, the statement warned.

The Commission further urged all celebrants to honour cultural traditions responsibly and report any suspicious firearm activity to the authorities. Meanwhile, police in Bimbilla have launched investigations into the incident as public outrage grows over the continued use of firearms during cultural festivities.