The Ghana Police Service has launched an intensive manhunt for a group of armed individuals involved in a shooting incident at Gomoa Fetteh in the Gomoa East District of the Central Region. According to a MyJoyOnline report the violence occurred during the celebration of the annual Akomase festival on Tuesday afternoon. Initial accounts from the scene indicate that the gunmen opened fire into a crowd during a traditional procession.
Citi Newsroom reports that the attack resulted in the immediate death of two persons while several others sustained varying degrees of gunshot wounds. The victims were reportedly rushed to the St. Gregory Hospital at Buduburam for emergency medical attention. Medical officials cited by local news outlets have confirmed that some of the injured remain in critical condition while others are being stabilized.
Regional police authorities told Adom News that the motive behind the attack remains under investigation although preliminary findings suggest the violence may be linked to a long standing chieftaincy dispute within the Gomoa Fetteh traditional area. Officers have been deployed to the community to maintain law and order and prevent any retaliatory attacks between rival factions. The police have urged residents to remain calm while the investigation continues.
A statement attributed to the Central Regional Police Command indicates that security intelligence is being utilized to identify the perpetrators who fled the scene shortly after the shooting. The GhanaWeb news portal stated that the police have appealed to the public for any information that could lead to the arrest of the suspects. No official arrests have been confirmed at this time according to official police communication channels.