The Office of the Volta Regional Chief Imam, Ali Muniru, has condemned the Boxing Day shooting incident at the Ho Central Mosque by a group of assailants, saying it violated the sanctity of the house of worship and left innocent worshippers injured.

In a statement dated December 27, 2025, issued by the office and signed by the spokesman for the Regional Chief Imam, Chief Adamu Hamani, he said the tragic incident was the outcome of the deliberate and prolonged obstruction to the lawful authority of the Volta Regional Chief Imam, despite his recent affirmation by the National Chief Imam, Sheik Osman Nuhu Shaributu, by a faction at the Sabong Zango. 

In an open defiance, the faction at the Zango had persistently prevented the Regional Chief Imam from accessing the Ho Central Mosque by resorting to threats, intimidation, and violence, rather than lawful or acceptable Islamic processes, the statement added.

He said the repeated appeals to the Volta Regional Police Command to ensure Muniru’s safe and lawful access to the mosque were ignored.

“More troubling is the repeated claims by the faction that they were supported by the Regional Police Command and other security agencies,” the statement added.

Further, the statement said, the conduct of the security agencies after the shooting incident was rather disturbing.

For instance, it said, despite the numerous videos circulating on social media and other irrefutable evidence vividly showing family members and supporters of the Regional Chief Imam being violently attacked, the Regional Police Command ignored them.

“Rather, the police arrested people perceived to be aligned with the Regional Chief Imam, while turning a blind eye to the atrocities committed against him, his family, and his supporters,” the statement claimed.

As a result, the statement said, fear had heightened at the Zango, compelling some individuals to flee for their lives.

“Even more alarming, the Ho Central Mosque, declared a crime scene, was swiftly reopened and made available to the faction, severely undermining the public's confidence in the neutrality of the security agencies' response,” it said.

The statement called for a professional, impartial, and courageous action from the security agencies to protect lives and property at the Zango.

It entreated all Muslims in the region to remain calm, law-abiding and steadfast in peace, even in the face of provocation.

When contacted, the Volta Regional Police Commander, DCOP Wisdom Akorli, said the preliminary investigation had, so far, revealed that the incident was premeditated.

He said meticulous investigations were still ongoing into the matter, adding the police would not take sides in the matter.

The Regional Police Commander said, although calm had returned to the Zango, the police would remain present there for some time to ensure the peace was not violated by any group.

Graphic Online understands that all 14 suspects who were sent to the Police Headquarters in Accra on Saturday for interrogation have been released.