One person has been shot dead and the remains of a local chief set ablaze during a conflict over burial space at Tehey in the Ada West District of the Greater Accra Region.
Irate members of the faction that opposed the burial of the late chief, Nene Mensah Zotorvi V, in his residence at the Tehey community, attacked the family and mourners with machetes, and other offensive weapons, resulting in the death of a 40-year-old man, Ofotsu Sabbah, with many other mourners sustaining life-threatening injuries.
The DCE, Adzoteye Laweh Akrofi, who spoke with Class FM on Monday, 17 September 2018, said he received reports that one of the factions had secured a court injunction on Tuesday, 11 September 2018 to restrain the late chief’s family from burying him in his house at Tehey.
However, the court order was only served on the late chief’s family on late Saturday at the funeral grounds at Tamatoku in the Ada East District.
However, a commotion broke out which resulted in the torching of the ambulance carrying the chief’s corpse.
Mr Akrofi said he has been devastated by the incident. According to him, an emergency District Security Committee (DISEC) meeting will be convened today, Monday, 17 September, to get to the bottom of the matter and also forestall reprisal attacks.
He called on both factions to remain calm as the security agencies deal with the case.
The burnt body of the late chief and the remains of the mourner who got killed in the scuffle have been sent to the police hospital for preservation and autopsy, respectively.