KILLED! Nii Abu Kwashiebu
AT LEAST four people have been killed in a heated exchange of gunfire at Sowutuom, including the local chief’s son identified as Nii Abu Kwashiebu aka ‘Govana,’ following a deadly clash between two factions during the Homowo celebration last Saturday.
Several other persons also sustained varying injuries in the clash that has left residents of the area living in fear.
These clashes erupted when residents of Dwenewoho attempted to sprinkle Kpokpoi, a traditional dish which forms a major part of the festival, in Sowutuom over boundary disputes.
Eyewitnesses who spoke to JoyNews on condition of anonymity said local traditional leaders resisted the attempt, and the disagreement quickly escalated into violence, with heavy gunfire being reported.
“After the Chelsea game, we heard gunshots at the junction. For almost 30 minutes, bullets flew everywhere. The Sowutuom people insisted that Dwenewoho couldn’t sprinkle kpokpoi here, but they refused to stop. That was the cause of the fight,” the eyewitness reportedly said.
The witness revealed that the deceased include the Obrafor of Sowutuom and the son of the local chief. Several others are believed to have been injured, though the exact number remains unclear.
He recounted how armed men stormed the area, forcing many residents to flee and lock up their shops. “About five of them entered here with serious guns, shooting left, right, and centre. One man they were chasing ran into my place, but later went out and was shot,” he added.
The situation has led to heavy police presence in the area, as efforts are being made to restore calm.
But many shops remained closed on Sunday, as residents feared the violence could erupt again.
A resident who spoke to DAILY GUIDE disclosed that residents of the area are living in fear in spite of police presence.
“I went out this morning to buy waakye. When I got there, the waakye seller didn’t come and nobody was there,” the resident added.
The incident occurred barely four days after a similar shooting incident in Teshie resulted in the death of two persons and left several others injured.
The incident marred the sprinkling of Kpokpoi last Tuesday by Teshie Obediben Mantse and Acting Atofotse of Teshie, Nii Martey Dzata Obrempong.
The deceased, identified as 30-year-old Eddy Blessing and 27-year-old Patrick Maamah Martey Fio, were pronounced dead on arrival at LEKMA Hospital after sustaining gunshot wounds.
According to Nii Martey Dzata Obrempong, “Exactly ten years ago, the same shooting and killing of innocent people happened during the Homowo festival when Nii Martey Dzata Obrempong I (Teshie Obediben Mantse and Acting Atofotse of Teshie) was not enstooled as chief.”
The incident has resulted in a High Court in Accra issuing an injunction halting all outdoor and public events at this year’s Teshie Homowo Festival.
However, this August 29 ruling does not affect the performance of traditional rites. The ruling came after an ex parte application supported by an affidavit from the Ghana Police Service.
ASP Benjamin Baafi, who presented the application, told the court that the disturbances occurred during the sprinkling of Kpokpoi on Tuesday, August 26, when rival youth groups from the Lenshie and Gbugblah clans engaged in violent clashes.
The confrontation left two people dead and several others injured, prompting fears of further unrest.
To prevent an escalation, the court ordered the suspension of all non-traditional outdoor festival activities scheduled for Saturday, August 30, and Sunday, August 31, citing the need to protect public safety, peace, and security.
BY Prince Fiifi Yorke