The suspects
At least four persons have been apprehended by the Ghana Police Service following their alleged involvement in a sporadic shooting incident that occurred during burial and funeral rites of six family members at Asamankese, in the Eastern Region.
The suspects include Isaac Ntim, Nana Yaw Zenyo, Bismark K. K. Adam and Buaben Richard.
The shooting incident led to the injuring of six civilians and three police officers. Items retrieved from the suspects include one (1) single barrel gun, eighty-four (84) live AAA cartridges, seven (7) cutlasses and two (2) knives.
A statement signed by DSP David Fianko-Okyere, Public Affairs Unit, Eastern South Region, said officers gathered information that some people were conveying guns and cartridges into a room near the chiefs palace. The police therefore dispatched personnel to the scene, leading to the arrest and retrieval of weapons.
Some agitated youth attacked the officers with stones and other implements, causing injuries to three on their heads and hands, and further caused damage to the windscreen and side glass of their vehicles.
The youth also blocked the road at Asamankese-Akroso junction and around the chief’s palace, firing guns indiscriminately on the allegation that the bereaved family may bury their six bodies in the royal cemetery.
In the process, six victims; David Odame, 28 years, Musah Gyakweli, 29 years, Patrick Ofosu, Obeng Emmanuel, 18 years, Asamoah Sey, 18 years, and one other yet to be identified sustained gunshot injuries.
The victims are on admission at the Asamankese Government Hospital receiving treatment whilst all the suspects are in police custody assisting with investigation.
The Eastern South Regional Police Command has intensified patrols and surveillance in the town to maintain law and order.
BY Prince Fiifi Yorke