One person has been shot dead and several others injured in a chieftaincy violence at Adome, a suburb of Odumase Krobo in the Lower Manya Krobo Municipality of the Eastern Region.
There has, as a result, been an uneasy calm in the area after the incident.
Eyewitnesses say one faction of a chieftaincy divide was on a procession through the streets of the community with a palanquin and began shooting sporadic.
The sporadic shooting drew the attention of onlookers and residents.
Emmanuel Tetteh Narh, 55, also known as Ozibo, was one of the onlookers of the sporadic shooting.
He was, however, shot close to his house and pronounced dead at the St Martin de Porres Catholic Hospital.
His niece, Jasmine Dede Narh, says the family suspect targeted killing from information they have picked from relatives and her own ordeal.
“I was at the top when one guy rushed in to tell me that my uncle has been shot into the gutter and rushed to the hospital. I sought help from a neighbour to drive me to the hospital. On our way, we stopped by the Police Station close to Lasi to make a case.
She continued: “About six men stopped us and began shooting all over. Bystanders were affected by the gun shots. My friend was asked to come out of his car while a gun was pointed at me too. I told them I had an emergency at the hospital to attend to.”
She added: “One woman passed by and pointed to me that I am a daughter of Ozibi. One of the gun men told me, their men are being held hostage at Adome. They asked me to remain calm and wait. By then, my driver friend was no more in sight. I asked of his whereabout, they said he was okay. Some policemen came around to restore order, I hopped unto a commercial tricycle to the house to change over. I did so and returned to the Police Station to have my statement taken before leaving to the hospital. My uncle was pronounced dead. I saw about five others who were treated from gunshot wounds at the St Martin De Porres Hospital.”
Calm has been restored to the area but no arrest has been made yet as police have commenced investigation into the matter.
Konor of Manya Krobo Nene Sackite, who doubles as President of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs, reacted to recent emerging chieftaincy dispute among divisions at the Ngmayem festival.
“The Konor does not install chiefs for divisions. Only the divisions install their own chiefs and present them to me for oath-swearing.”
He explained: “If there are any issues in the division then this are mostly internal issues not the paramountcy. All I do is to accept them and have them swear their oath of allegiance to the stool.”
By Yvonne Neequaye|3news.com|Ghana