Ablekuma chieftaincy clash leads to three deaths

Two people died instantly and one died later at the Police Hospital in Accra after sustaining gunshot wounds during a chieftaincy clash between two factions of Ablekuma in the Ga Central District.

DSP Freeman Tettey, the Public Affairs Officer at the Accra Regional Commander of the Ghana Police Service in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, said his outfit received information around 14:15 hours that there was a raging gun battle at Ablekuma.

He said the police quickly deployed a number of patrol teams and armored vehicles to the scene where they witnessed sporadic gun fire between the two factions.

DSP Tettey said the moment the police team got to the scene, the combatants bolted but the police pursued them and arrested nine of them.

He said as a result of the battle, 2 deaths were recorded instantly and 4 persons sustained various degrees of injuries and the death toll rose to three by Sunday morning.

He said the 2 dead people were sent to the Police Hospital Mortuary while the injured are receiving medical attention at the same Hospital.

DSP Tettey said preliminary investigations gathered by the police was that a faction led by its chief, Nii Kwaku Fosu, came out to sprinkle the ‘kpokpoi’ for the Homowo festivities after an initial faction led by Nii Larbi Mensah came to sprinkle theirs.

He said the clash occurred when the faction of Nii Kwaku Fosu, having gone round to sprinkle their ‘Kpokpoi’ opened fire on the other chief Nii Larbi Mensah’s followers as they went round sprinkling their ‘Kpokpoi’.

DSP Tettey said the Nii Larbi Mensah’s faction also returned fire and hence the battle.

He said out of the nine arrested, 4 were from the Nii Larbi Mensah faction, with the rest from the other faction and were arrested together with their chiefs to assist in the investigations.

He said two vehicles were burnt in the process whiles the palace of Nii Kwaku Fosu was vandalised.

DSP Tettey cautioned the factions to be mindful and respect the laws of the land saying anybody who feels aggrieved in any situation should seek legal processes for redress.

He also reminded the public to be mindful of public order and that anybody who wants to organise an outdoor program must notify the police for permission assistance.

In an unrelated event, 96 structures have been razed by fire at the Odawna market, DSP Tettey who confirmed the report, said investigations have already begun to find the cause of the fire.