A long-standing friction between the youth of Mankessim and Ekumfi Eyisam erupted into a lethal confrontation on Saturday, January 3, 2026, leaving one man dead and several others fighting for their lives after being doused with acid.

The Mfantseman Municipality was plunged into chaos as the free-for-all fight forced residents and traders to flee for their lives.

The deceased, identified as Mr. Wisdom, was allegedly shot dead during the height of the melee, while multiple victims sustained horrific chemical burns and deep cutlass wounds.

Retaliation at the Shell Filling Station

The roots of the violence trace back to New Year’s Day, when a misunderstanding reportedly broke out between youth groups from both towns at the Saltpond Beach.

While that initial scuffle was thought to have cooled, the embers of resentment flared up three days later.

Police sources indicate that the violence was triggered when three young men from Ekumfi Eyisam were spotted at the Mankessim Shell Filling Station, located near the popular Pizza Man outlet.

In what is believed to be a pre-planned act of retaliation for the beach incident, the trio was heckled and assaulted by Mankessim youth.

Realising they were outnumbered, the victims reportedly made a frantic call for reinforcement.

Within minutes, a vengeance squad armed with firearms, cutlasses, and containers of acid arrived from Ekumfi Eyisam, turning the busy filling station into a battlefield.

The sheer brutality of the clash has left the Central Region in shock.

Beyond the fatal shooting of Mr. Wisdom, the use of acid as a weapon has introduced a terrifying dimension to local youth disturbances.

“Currently, Mankessim police are trying to contain the fight but are beyond control while everybody is running for his or her life,” an eyewitness reported as the violence spilt over into the main streets.

Medical personnel at local facilities are currently treating several youth who arrived with acid-bathed bodies and life-altering lacerations.

The identity of those in critical condition is yet to be fully confirmed as the police work to secure the hospital premises from potential reprisal attacks.