Ibrahim Mahama Says He Was Assaulted by Police in Tamale, Forcing Medical Treatment and Postponed Talks
Ghanaian artist Ibrahim Mahama (b. 1987) has alleged that he was assaulted by police in his hometown of Tamale in Ghana’s Northern Region, an incident he says has left him with injuries and forced him to postpone a slate of international engagements.
Over the weekend of March 21 to 22, videos and photographs circulated online showing Mahama holding blood-stained clothing while describing what he said had just happened. In comments aired by ChannelOne TV, he stated: “I was really assaulted by the police today; you can see how they broke my tooth, and then my mouth is bleeding and my ribs are all hurting.”
Mahama has said the altercation began as a traffic dispute on Saturday, March 21, and that it involved members of the Ghanaian Inspector General of Police’s special operations team, known as “Black Maria.” In an account he shared with local media, he said he and his uncle were returning to his father’s house from a mosque after Eid-Ul-Fitr prayers when his uncle attempted to move through an opening in traffic. Mahama alleges that officers then began banging on their car, entered the vehicle, and attacked both men after his uncle criticized their behavior.
At a press conference held in Tamale on March 23, Mahama further alleged that police attention shifted toward him after he began filming them. He and other victims, he said, were treated at a local hospital in Tamale.
Mahama told GTV Ghana that he believes the perpetrators were members of Black Maria. The unit has reportedly denied the allegations, describing media reports as a misrepresentation of events. The police force has been approached for comment.
Mahama said the incident has led to ongoing health complications, including recurring headaches, rib pain, dental instability, and difficulty resting. “It has put my life on hold,” he said. He added that he was scheduled to deliver lectures this week in London at the Royal College of Art, University of Cambridge, and Oxford University, before traveling to Helsinki, Amsterdam, and South Africa for additional art-related events. Those commitments, he said, have now been postponed.
One of Ghana’s most internationally visible contemporary artists, Mahama is known for monumental installations made from sewn-together jute sacks, often draped across buildings to probe the aesthetics and politics of labor, trade, and globalization. In recent years, he has also directed resources from his practice into building cultural infrastructure in Tamale, including the Savannah Centre for Contemporary Art (SCCA) and Red Clay Studio, both of which function as residency and education platforms.
In December, Mahama placed first in ArtReview’s Power 100, becoming the first African artist to top the annual ranking of art-world influence. Months earlier, he was among five figures in Ghana’s creative community to receive a diplomatic passport from the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in recognition of their contributions.
In an interview with ChannelOne TV, Mahama said he is considering legal action against the police, framing the decision as being for the “benefit of the society.” He also said he wants the Black Maria unit disbanded.
A coalition of Ghanaian cultural organizations — including the SCCA, the artist-led Foundation for Contemporary Art-Ghana, and Compound Gallery — published a statement on March 23 condemning the alleged assault and calling for “a full, transparent and independent investigation into the incident.”
Abla Dzifa Gomashie, Ghana’s minister for tourism, culture and creative arts, also addressed Mahama in an open letter posted to her social media, paying tribute to the artist and describing the allegations as deeply troubling.
