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On Thursday morning, a funeral procession in Nyinahin, Atwima Division, Ashanti Region, took a terrible turn when a confrontation with military forces led to the alleged shooting of mourners, leaving one person dead and three seriously injured.
The event happened in Nyinahin-Nkwanta at approximately 11:00 a.m. when a group of young people were going to the cemetery to bury a friend who had passed away, according to a situational report from the Nyinahin Police.
They said the mourners were halted by a military truck, registered 73 GA 39, travelling from Kumasi to Bibiani. Akwasi Lala, 37, also known as Kushivi, was accosted by about six soldiers who had disembarked for wearing military gear.
Eyewitness accounts suggest that the soldiers demanded the deceased remove the uniform. While complying, one of the soldiers allegedly shot him in the head at close range, killing him instantly. The soldiers then reportedly fired indiscriminately into the crowd, striking three other mourners:
Kofi Agyapong, 44
Alfred Kwarteng, 24
Kofi Owusu, alias Juve, 36
The injured were rushed to the Nyinahin Government Hospital, where they are currently receiving treatment.
In an attempt to intercept the military vehicle, Nyinahin Police immediately alerted snap checkpoints at Akota and Antwi Adjei-Nkwanta after receiving a distress call at 11:10 a.m. But according to officials on duty, the military truck drove through the checks without stopping.
Eighteen (18) empty bullet shells were recovered by a police squad that investigated the scene; they have been kept for further examination. Akwasi Lala’s remains has been placed at the Nyinahin Community Mortuary until an autopsy is conducted.
Since then, the incident has caused uproar and prompted questions about how the military should behave in public areas. Investigations have been launched by the police, and Detective Sergeant Yussif Osman is in charge of the case.
Official statements on the subject have not yet been made by the Ghanaian military.
Nyinahin locals are demanding justice for the deaths and an impartial investigation in the meanwhile. To learn more, contact D/Sgt. Yussif Osman at 0249640707
