The Ghana Police Service has arrested four people in connection with the murder of the destooled Akwamuhene (sub-chief) of Tanoso, in the Bono East Region, following a protracted chieftaincy conflict.

A statement from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), signed by Chief Inspector Brigitte Babanawo, revealed that the arrested suspects are Issifu Addae, alias Akwasi Addae; Stephen Gyamfi; Augustine Arhinful; and Martha Mansah.

According to the statement, four more individuals have been named as persons of interest and are actively being pursued by police.

The CID said, “Our preliminary investigations indicate that the deceased was destooled as the Akwamuhene of Tanoso … but he reportedly rejected the decision and engaged the family in multiple litigations and disputes.”

It added: “The four suspects are currently in police custody, assisting investigations. Meanwhile, police have intensified efforts to track down the remaining suspects to face the full rigours of the law.”

Background: A Murder Rooted in Chieftaincy Conflict

According to reports, Nana Owusu Korkor, aged about 74–76, was the Akwamuhene (sub-chief) of Tanoso. He was allegedly shot dead on his farm in the early hours of 10 November 2025, in what seems to have been a carefully planned attack.

His death shocked the royal family and the local community. The Tanoso royal family says Nana Korkor left home to go to his farm but was later found lying in a pool of blood, with gunshot wounds.

What the Investigation Is Revealing

Police say that before his death, Nana Korkor had been destooled — removed from his position — and replaced by Nana Akyeampong Duodu.

According to the CID’s statement, the late chief rejected his destoolment and had filed court cases against the royal family.

Further investigation reportedly uncovered serious financial allegations against him: police claim he had misappropriated five gold bars belonging to the family and sold family land to a developer after his destoolment.

During this dispute, the arrested suspects allegedly visited the contested land, halted a developer’s work, seized a block-moulding machine, and threatened to “teach [the late chief] a lesson.”

Some law enforcement sources also suspect that Nana Akyeampong Duodu, the newly installed Akwamuhene, may have orchestrated the killing. Investigators say he was abroad in the United States at the time of the crime, raising questions of motive and planning.