Following reports that foreign nationals could be targeted for kidnapping in Northern Ghana, the Australian High Commissioner  to Ghana, His Excellency Gregory Andrews,has advised its nationals in the country to be extra cautious.

“If you’re in Northern Ghana, including the Upper West and Upper East Regions, you may be targetted for kidnapping for ransom. You should exercise a high degree of caution in these regions,” the Commission said in a social media post.

The United States of America embassy in Ghana has also advised its citizens in Northern Ghana to be wary.

“The U.S. Embassy in Accra, Ghana, has received unsubstantiated information that U.S. citizens may be targeted for kidnapping for ransom in northern Ghana, to include the Upper East Region and the Upper West Region,” the security alert message said.

“U.S. citizens travelling in Ghana should exercise caution while visiting border areas, in particular the northern border, and be sure to stay abreast of any Security Alerts affecting those areas. Due to concerns over criminal activity in remote areas, travel of U.S. government personnel to the northern and northwestern border is currently limited,” portions of the U.S Embassy’s alert read.

The country’s security agencies have been put on high alert for some time now, following intelligence that bandits from Burkina Faso may attack Northern Ghana.

In 2021, the government said it is securing the country’s borders over reports of potential terrorist attacks in Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region, and Tamale in the Northern Region.