Police arrests five over Mankessim shooting incident

Five persons have been arrested by the Central Region Police in connection with a shooting incident that claimed two lives at the weekend.

The incident was as result of a protracted chieftaincy feud over who is the rightful paramount queenmother of Mankessim which got fatal on Saturday, claiming the lives of a Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) officer and one other person believed to be a student at Mankessim.

The official, identified as Mr. Samuel Ampofo, Mfansteman Director of the BNI was caught in a crossfire after some unidentified persons shot into a jubilating crowd during a procession which was some few meters to the Mankessim Omanhene’s palace.

Five others including a police officer known as Inspector William Nyarko were severely injured and are receiving treatment at Cape Coast Teaching Hospital and Mercy Women’s Catholic Hospital at Mankessim.

Deputy Superintendent of Police, (DSP) Irene Serwaah Oppong, Central Regional Police Public Relations Officer (PRO) told the Ghana News Agency on Monday that the names of the suspects were being withheld for security reasons.

She said the Regional Police Command has taken over the case and the suspects were assisting in investigations and will be arraigned soon.

On Saturday, December 7, the coronation ceremony of Nana Araba Otua II, the new Paramount queenmother of Mankessim turned bloody and fatal when unknown assailants shot into the crowd killing the two.

The outdooring ceremony was held after a Cape Coast High Court struck out a gazette of Osagyefo Amanfo Adu VI, the Paramount chief of Mankessim and Nana Ama Amissah I, the Paramount Queenmother who have been on the throne for more than two decades.

Nana Araba Otua, had had a long standing feud with the Paramountcy, claiming she was the rightful successor to be enstooled as the Queenmother and had taken the issue to court till a verdict was given in her favour last week.

Source: GNA