Teshie Chief condemns festival violence and demands justice

The Paramount Chief of Teshie, Gbetsoolo Nii Ashitey Akomfra III, has strongly condemned the violence that marred this year’s Homowo festival, leaving three young men dead and several others injured.

He described the incident as a heartbreaking violation of the community’s sacred traditions and called for swift justice.

The violence broke out during the Kpokpoi sprinkling ceremony on August 26, an event typically marked by joy and unity.

Instead, celebrants were met with gunfire and chaos as attackers stormed the palace and surrounding areas.

“My palace was invaded by gunshots, volleys of stones, and shards of broken bottles,” Nii Akomfra recounted. “The very person who carried my kpokpoi for the ceremony returned limping with a bleeding gunshot wound.”

In a press briefing on September 3, the chief expressed deep sorrow and extended condolences to the bereaved families.

He also dismissed claims suggesting he orchestrated the violence as “absurd and defamatory,” saying such accusations insult the intelligence of the people of Teshie.

The chief highlighted serious breaches of cultural norms, including the appearance of militant groups dressed in red, a colour symbolising war, during what is traditionally a white-clad, peaceful festival.

Calling for unity, Nii Akomfra urged residents to support investigations and help bring those responsible to justice.

He confirmed that intelligence had been shared with security agencies ahead of the festival and expressed disappointment in their failure to prevent the violence.

“Let the pain of these tragic murders be a social glue that will bind us together,” he said. “We must remain united and ensure justice is served.”

The Traditional Council is calling for the incident to be treated as a high-profile criminal case, demanding accountability from all involved.