Free SHS Implementation Trip Ends in Gûn Attack, Former Education Minister Recounts
Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, a leading contender in the New Patriotic Party’s upcoming presidential primaries and a former Minister of Education, has shared a chilling account of a near-fatal attack he survived while serving in government. He described the experience as one of the most serious personal risks he took in the course of duty under the Akufo-Addo administration.
Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, the Bosomtwe Member of Parliament explained that the incident followed an official trip to Bolgatanga, where he was scheduled to participate in a programme on the implementation of the Free Senior High School policy during his time as Deputy Education Minister. According to him, the event did not eventually take place, but the return journey turned into a life-threatening ordeal.
Dr. Adutwum recounted that while travelling back to Kumasi, his vehicle was ambushed near Buipe. He said armed men wearing masks suddenly appeared and opened fire on the car without warning. He attributed his survival largely to the alertness and driving skill of his driver, whose quick decisions helped them escape the attackers under intense pressure.
The danger, however, did not end immediately. Shortly after fleeing the scene, the vehicle’s tyres went flat, further exposing how close the situation came to ending tragically. Dr. Adutwum noted that the police later described the attack as highly unusual, particularly because government vehicles had not been known to be targeted in that manner at the time.
He added that the gravity of the incident became even clearer when senior officials examined the damaged vehicle. Former Senior Minister Yaw Osafo-Maafo and then National Security Minister Albert Kan-Dapaah, he said, were visibly shaken after seeing the bullet marks and expressed gratitude that he survived the attack.
Despite investigations by the police, Dr. Adutwum revealed that the case was never conclusively resolved, even with James Oppong-Boanuh serving as Inspector-General of Police at the time. As the NPP prepares for its presidential primaries on January 31, he said the experience stands as a reminder of his commitment, sacrifices, and long-standing dedication to both the party and national service.
