Celebrated Ghanaian visual artist Ibrahim Mahama has alleged that he was assaulted by police officers on Saturday morning while traveling through Tamale.

Mahama, founder of the Savannah Centre for Contemporary Art (SCCA) and CEO of Red Clay, said the incident occurred as he was returning from the mosque.

In a statement he shared shortly after the incident, he described the encounter as a “brutal assault” and called for prayers.

According to accounts attributed to Mahama, the incident began when police officers reportedly forced their way through heavy traffic, causing a gridlock situation.

A passenger in the bus in which Mahama was traveling is said to have questioned the officers’ actions, prompting them to stop the vehicle.

The officers allegedly demanded that the bus park, leading to further exchanges with passengers who questioned their conduct.

Mahama who had recorded the unfolding scene, said the officers then turned on him, physically assaulting him and confiscating his phone.

He further alleged that footage of the incident was deleted from his device.

Eyewitness descriptions and images circulating online show Mahama with visible injuries, including blood-stained clothing, a cut lip, and a reportedly broken tooth, as he made his way to seek medical attention.

There has been no official response yet from the Ghana Police Service regarding the allegations.

Mahama is widely regarded as one of Ghana’s most prominent contemporary artists, with international exhibitions and a strong presence in cultural development initiatives in northern Ghana.