Festival turns bloody as man is shot dead over chieftaincy dispute at Mankessim

The Odambia Festival in Mankessim in the Central Region turned violent when Acting Gyaasehen Nana Ato Gyinam allegedly shot and killed a 45-year-old man, Kwesi Melchior, in broad daylight.

The tragic incident occurred on Friday, October 25, 2025.

An eyewitness explained told GHOne News, Yaw Boagyan that Nana Ato Gyinam, Acting Gyaasehen of the Nkusukum Traditional Area, had previously warned the victim not to participate in the festival celebrations, as he belonged to a rival faction.

However, upon seeing Melchior with the festival group and holding a gun, the chief allegedly shot him dead. The eyewitness reported seeing the chief in a heated argument with the deceased, warning him to stay away from the festival grounds.

Some family members of the deceased, expressed their concerns about the incident and called on the Mfantseman Divisional Police Commander to take swift action and ensure the law deals appropriately with the suspect. One of Mr. Melchior’s sisters attributed the incident to a long-standing chieftaincy dispute within the Nkusukum Traditional Area.

The Assembly Member for the New Nkusukum Electoral Area also condemned the act and appealed to the police to act swiftly. He noted that ongoing chieftaincy disputes in the area have led to unrest and, in this case, a tragic outcome.

The body of the deceased has been deposited at the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital Mortuary, while the suspect chief is currently in police custody, assisting with investigations at the Mankessim Jedu Divisional Police Command.

KA

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