Former Minister of Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, has revealed that he narrowly escaped death after armed men opened fire on his vehicle during a regional tour to promote the implementation of the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy during his time in government.
Speaking in an interview on Joy News on September 17, 2025, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer hopeful recounted that the incident occurred while returning from Bawku and Buipe, where he had been engaging stakeholders on the government’s flagship education programme.
“One of my journeys back from Bawku, Buipe, my car was shot at, literally killed on the line of duty. I almost lost my life,” he said.
According to him, the attackers, wearing masks, ambushed his vehicle and fired multiple rounds, riddling the side of the car with bullets. His driver was forced to manoeuvre dangerously to avoid the gunfire.
“We turned a corner; we saw them with their masks on, and then they started shooting. My driver had to do a zigzag, go this way, come this way, to dodge the bullets. It was a very difficult day,” Dr Adutwum narrated.
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The assailants, he said, also targeted the tyres of the vehicle in an apparent attempt to immobilise it. He explained that one of the tyres went flat when they finally stopped at the Buipe Police Station.
He disclosed that when he reported the incident to the Buipe police, officers expressed shock, noting that such an attack had never been recorded against a government vehicle in the area.
“They said it has never happened before. Nobody has ever shot into a government vehicle because they know you don’t carry money. Normally, they will attack traders and not somebody in a Land Cruiser,” he recounted.
When asked whether he believed the shooting was an assassination attempt, the former minister responded, “I don’t know. All that I knew was that my side of the car was bullet-ridden.”
NPP 2028 Presidential Hopeful Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum recounts escaping death in the line of duty for his party.#JoyNews pic.twitter.com/FBqCqR1uxG
— JoyNews (@JoyNewsOnTV) September 17, 2025
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