Security forces in Kumasi are on high alert following a series of deadly shootings that have claimed the lives of the Kusasi Chief of the Ashanti Region and another individual. Authorities are now pursuing four key suspects believed to have ties to the decades-old conflict in Bawku.
The attacks, which occurred last week at Asawase and Dominase, have shaken residents and prompted a swift response from the Ashanti Regional Security Council.
According to Ashanti Regional Security Coordinator, Captain (Rtd) John Jabari, investigators suspect the killings may be linked to ongoing tensions in Bawku, with perpetrators potentially targeting individuals believed to be financially supporting factions in the northern conflict.
“There’s intelligence indicating that some financiers of the Bawku crisis might be living in the south, and could be under threat,” Captain Jabari said in an interview on Luv FM.
He added that the attackers, who reportedly used motorbikes to carry out the shootings, may have been sent south by powerful figures benefiting from the protracted unrest in Bawku.
In the wake of the incidents, security has been bolstered in Kumasi, with intensified patrols, snap checks, and surveillance at strategic points across the city. Authorities are also working with the Small Arms Commission to track illegal arms movement, a factor believed to be contributing to the violence.
Criminologist Dr. Jones Opoku-Ware praised the swift response of security agencies, noting that the current measures could help preempt potential revenge attacks and further bloodshed.
“The intelligence-led approach and enhanced monitoring will be key in preventing a cycle of violence,” he said.
While calm has returned in recent days, residents remain cautious as investigations continue and efforts to prevent further violence intensify.
