The Nanumba Traditional Council has expressed deep sorrow over the tragic death of a female student from Bimbilla Senior High School during this year’s Fire Festival celebrations in Bimbilla, Northern Region.
The incident, which occurred on July 5, 2025, involved the student being hit by a stray bullet reportedly fired from an unauthorized weapon.
In a statement released to the Ghana News Agency, the Council emphasized that this heartbreaking event is unprecedented in the long history of the revered Fire Festival, a cultural occasion meant to bring the community together in celebration. The entire Nanung traditional area is now in mourning as they grieve the loss.
The Council reiterated that prior to the festivities, strict warnings were issued against the use of illegal firearms and dangerous weapons, underscoring that such acts are a dangerous departure from traditional practices. “The use of unauthorized weapons during our cultural celebration is not part of our tradition. It is a perilous deviation that we, as guardians of our heritage, will not accept,” the statement stressed.
Labeling the shooting not as an accident but a criminal offense, the Council called on security agencies to intensify investigations and bring the perpetrators to justice, irrespective of their status. “No one, no matter their position or intentions, should escape accountability,” it declared.
The traditional authority also pledged to work closely with law enforcement to prevent such tragedies from recurring, reaffirming that the Fire Festival is a vital cultural legacy intended to unite and uplift the community, not to cause loss of innocent life.
