Ibrahim Mahama, a Ghanaian artist, has it that it is a no-brainer; he is considering legal action against the members of the Black Maria, the Inspector-General of Police’s Special Operations Team.
It will be recalled that Ibrahim Mahama, who was allegedly assaulted by the IGP’s special operations team, also known as Black Maria, in Tamale.
Reports suggest he was beaten for filming the Black Maria team as they unsuccessfully forced their way through a traffic jam while on a mission.
Speaking in an interview, Ibrahim Mahama stated, “They broke into our bus, forced me to open my phone and deleted the pictures. From the beginning to the end, everything was an assault”.
“The Police (Black Maria) team with their sirens tried to pass through the traffic by clearing the way, but were not successful. After several attempts, they began confronting the motorists, which resulted in physical assault on the civilians,” he explained.
“They beat us up and forced my boss Ibrahim Mahama to open his password and delete the videos. They took us to Sakasaka Police Station and beat us up again,” Ibrahim Mahommed further stated.
Following the assault, Ibrahim Mahama and the other injured persons were taken to Habannah Hospital in Tamale for treatment.
The artist lost two of his front teeth as a result of the attack.
Speaking at a press conference in Tamale on Monday, March 23, Ibrahim Mahama stated, “Certainly, we are considering legal action. It’s very important. It’s a no-brainer. We have to do it”.
“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.”
Ibrahim Mahama further added, “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”.
“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. Currently, it has put my entire life on hold.”
The Ghanaian artist further raised concerns about Black Maria’s alleged pattern of abuse.
He added, “Of course, we’ve heard many stories about the same unit and the brutalities. That’s why they could say that we could kill you and nothing will happen.”
“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.
Meanwhile, the Ghana Police Service has confirmed a probe into the assault on the internationally-acclaimed artist and Founder and owner of Red Clay Studio, Ibrahim Mahama, by “some officers”, but denies Black Maria’s involvement.
According to the Police, Black Maria Team was withdrawn from the Northern Region by the IGP on March 5.
In a statement issued by the Police, they wrote, “The Northern Regional Police Command has commenced investigations into a reported assault on visual artist, Mr Ibrahim Mahama, by some officers in Tamale.
The Command assures the public that updates of the ongoing investigation will be duly communicated.
Meanwhile, claims in sections of the media that the Special Operations Team (The Black Maria) was involved in this case are false, since the team has been out of the Northern Region following their withdrawal by the Inspector-General of Police on Thursday, the 5th of March. 2026”.