The Eastern South Regional Police Command has commenced investigations into a fatal shooting incident at Asiyaw, near Akwane-Dobro in the Nsawam area in the Nsawam-Adoagyiri Municipality on Tuesday, April 29, which left five persons dead.

A Police statement said a crime scene team dispatched to the area found the bodies of five male adults with gunshot wounds, following a dispute over illegal sand winning activities in the area.

The items Police recovered from the scene included one Toyota Tacoma vehicle, a Toyota Tundra vehicle, and one pump-action gun with 17 live cartridges, four empty cartridges, three 7.62/39mm empty shells, one 9mm empty shell and five heavy-duty motorbikes.

Initial investigations point to a violent confrontation between two rival groups allegedly fighting over sand mining activities at the location.

The bodies of the deceased have been transported to the Police Hospital mortuary in Accra for preservation, identification, and autopsy.

Police say efforts are underway to arrest the perpetrators behind the violence.

Background

The incident reportedly occurred during a meeting aimed at resolving growing tensions over sand winning, which local farmers say is destroying their farmlands and threatening food production.

Crops such as cassava, maize, and pawpaw have reportedly been severely impacted.

In response to community complaints, the boundary chief of the Adonteng Division of the Akuapem Traditional Area, accompanied by his subjects, visited the site to mediate the situation.

However, the visit turned tragic when a group of armed men, allegedly acting on the instructions of individuals identified only as Togbe and Alanyo, opened fire on the chief’s delegation.

The gunfire triggered chaos at the scene, leading to the death of at least five people.

The community remains tense as residents demand justice and increased security.