The victim at the hospital, The family house allegedly set ablaze by some landguards
A violent clash linked to a protracted land dispute has thrown Penteng in the Afigya Kwabre North District of the Ashanti Region into chaos, leaving one landguard critically injured and a house burnt in a reprisal attack.
Residents say the incident is part of escalating tensions over disputed lands in the area, where the activities of landguards have resurfaced, creating fear and uncertainty among community members.
The latest violence reportedly began when a resident, identified as Macho, continued with a building project on a piece of land near his family home despite repeated warnings.
Confirming the incident, the Assembly Member for the Penteng Electoral Area, Vincent Yormedor—who represents Penteng, Patase and Pampatia—revealed that the suspect had his building project at nearby Patase demolished on three separate occasions by persons believed to be landguards.
He disclosed that on Monday, March 30, three landguards again stormed the site, where the structure had reached lintel level, and pulled it down.
According to Mr. Yormedor, who also serves as the National Coordinating Secretary for the Ghana Association of Elected Assembly Members, the suspect later confronted the landguards at the site to demand answers, leading to a heated altercation.
During the confrontation, the landguards allegedly assaulted him, leaving him with injuries and bleeding from the mouth and nose.
The situation, however, took a more dangerous turn when the suspect reportedly went home, armed himself with a machete, and returned to the site.
Sensing danger, two of the landguards fled the scene, leaving one behind, who allegedly attempted to confront him.
In the ensuing struggle, the suspect reportedly overpowered the landguard and inflicted severe injuries, including severing his left hand and causing deep wounds to other parts of his body.
Police from the Kodie District Command rushed to the scene and conveyed the victim, together with the severed hand, to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi, where he is currently battling for his life.
In a swift retaliation, other landguards allegedly stormed the suspect’s residence and set his family house ablaze, causing extensive damage.
The Assembly Member has appealed to the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, to intervene and help resolve the land disputes affecting Penteng, Patase and Pampatia, warning that the situation is generating fear and panic while stalling development in the area.
He noted that although landguard activities had subsided in recent times, the latest incident points to a troubling resurgence.
As at the time of filing this report, no arrests had been made, as residents continue to call for urgent security intervention to restore calm in the community.
FROM David Afum, Penteng