Agona West Shooting: Police close in on perpetrator as investigation gets underway

The Ghana Police Service has announced that it is close to apprehending the perpetrator responsible for the shooting incident that occurred during political campaign activities in the Agona West constituency, where independent candidate Cynthia Mamle Morrison is contesting.

The police confirmed that an investigation has been launched into the incident, which took place on Sunday, October 27, 2024.

According to a statement from the police on Monday, October 28, 2024, four individuals sustained injuries, with two receiving treatment and remaining hospitalized.

“The Ghana Police Service is investigating a shooting incident that occurred during political campaign activities in the Agona West Constituency of the Central Region on the evening of Sunday, 27th October 2024.

“Four individuals sustained injuries during the incident, with two treated and discharged, while the remaining two are still on admission receiving medical care.

“The Police have been actively working on the case throughout Sunday night when the incident happened and are closing in on the perpetrator to get him arrested to face justice,” the statement read.

About the attack

A number of supporters of independent parliamentary candidate Cynthia Morrison were reportedly shot and injured by an unidentified person at Agona Nyakrom in the Central Region.

Reports indicated that the incident occurred on Sunday evening during a mini-rally when a sudden power outage affected the area. The victims are now receiving hospital treatment.

Morrison and her team reportedly fled to the police station to report the case.

Eyewitnesses alleged that the shots were fired from the back of a black campaign vehicle suspected to belong to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate.

"The gun was fired from one of the campaign cars belonging to Chris (NPP Parliamentary candidate). As the car drove past, a young man hit the vehicle repeatedly.

The driver stopped and got out, and as the young man who hit the vehicle tried to flee, the man fired the gun but it hit three people who sustained injuries," a male eyewitness narrated to GHOne News reporter Yaw Boagyan.

Cynthia Morrison responds

Cynthia Mamle Morrison, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Agona West, recently declared vacant by the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, reacted to reports of an assassination attempt against her.

Speaking in an interview with GhanaWeb on Monday, October 28, 2024, Morrison, a former Minister for Gender, Children, and Social Protection, confirmed that a shooting incident had indeed taken place at her campaign event. However, she could not confirm if the incident was an attempt on her life.

The former minister shared that at least four of her supporters, including a woman, were struck by bullets, sustaining varying degrees of injuries.

The former minister, who initially entered Parliament on the ticket of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), also stated that the attack would not deter her from pursuing the Agona West seat as an independent candidate.

She confirmed that the incident has been reported to the Ghana Police Service, who have begun an investigation.

“We have reported to the Regional Police Command and they are investigating. We went to the site yesterday, so we are currently investigating,” she said in the interview.

Morrison urged her supporters to remain calm and avoid any reprisal attacks, assuring them that the police are handling the investigation.

“My supporters should be calm; this is an election, it is not a do-and-die affair. We should focus on what we are doing and I know that the good Lord would be with us,” she added.

MAG/OGB

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