A chieftaincy dispute at Anum Apapam in the Eastern Region has allegedly resulted in the death of one person.
The protracted chieftaincy dispute escalated on Tuesday, August 27, 2024, during a ceremony to enstool a new chief for the town.
Gunshots were fired during the chaos, hitting three persons.
One person died from the gunshot wounds while the two others sustained varying degrees of injuries.
According to the Assemblyman for Anum Apapam, Takyi Ebenezer, the conflict intensified during the traditional rites meant to replace the recently deceased chief.
He said traditional leaders were in the process of conducting the ceremony when an opposing faction disrupted the proceedings.
“There was tension everywhere, with gunshots all over the place. Traders who came to trade had to flee for their lives,” he said.
The police swiftly intervened, restoring order and maintaining a heavy security presence in the area.
The incident has left the township in a state of uneasy calm.
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This adds up to several clashes over chieftaincy issues across the country this year.
On August 5, 2024, a violent confrontation at Awutu Bawjiase in the Awutu Senya West District of the Central Region left one person dead.
This happened hours before the scheduled outdooring ceremony of the new chief, Nai Nana Kwaku Osardu III.
According to police sources, a group of armed individuals believed to be land guards, stormed the Bawjiase chief’s palace around 10:45 pm, where family members were gathered in preparation for the ceremony.
The attack resulted in the death of a man in his 30s, who was shot during the chaos.
The Awutu Bawjiase community has been embroiled in a 25-year chieftaincy dispute, which was recently resolved by the National House of Chiefs.
The community had hoped that the ruling would end the dispute, making the violent turn of events particularly shocking.