WR: 2 persons in critical condition after violent chieftaincy clash at Wassa Domama

Two persons have spent the last three days at the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital and in critical condition after sustaining life-threatening cutlass wounds during an attack linked to a protracted chieftaincy dispute at Wassa Domama in the Wassa East District of the Western Region.

Two elders of the Odikro of the town, Nana Tweneboa Ntow II, have reportedly fled the community and spent the past two nights in a nearby bush for fear of further attacks.

Another victim linked to the incident remains on admission at the Twifo Praso Government Hospital, while four others who sustained minor injuries have since been treated and discharged.

Narrating events leading to the incident, Nana Tweneboa Ntow II told ConnectNews he was holding a council meeting with his elders after attending a funeral last Saturday when one of his relatives suddenly rushed into the compound bleeding profusely.

One of the injured
"One of my relatives came running into the compound minutes after he had gone out, with blood all over his body. Moments later, there was a commotion and some heavily built young men stormed the premises and started attacking people associated with me.

"One victim had his thumb completely severed. Others suffered deep cutlass wounds, including one person who sustained a serious head injury. We had to rush them to the hospital for treatment," he recounted.

According to him, the attack may have been triggered by the unresolved chieftaincy dispute in the area. He accused the regent of masterminding acts of intimidation against persons perceived to be aligned with him.

"There have been disturbances for some time now over the chieftaincy issue, with persons we believe are linked to the regent terrorising people without any provocation," he alleged.

One of the injured
Nana Tweneboa Ntow II further claimed that the police have not provided adequate protection to restore calm and prevent recurring violence. He warned that the situation could deteriorate if urgent security measures are not implemented in Wassa Domama.

"This is not the first time such an incident has occurred. We have made countless reports to the police, but no concrete action has been taken. This has emboldened the perpetrators and fueled the tensions in the community. As I speak, residents are still moving around in fear. Two of my elders have since not been able to return home.”

ConnectNews has, however, gathered that police investigators are awaiting statements from the victims who are receiving treatment before commencing a full-scale investigation into the incident and making any arrests.

By Eric Yaw Adjei