One Dead, Two Injured as Demolition Exercise on Disputed Land at Akwatia Line, Kumasi Turns Violent
One person has been killed and two others seriously injured after a demolition exercise on a disputed piece of land at Akwatia Line, a suburb of Kumasi, turned chaotic on Wednesday morning.
Eyewitnesses reported that a private developer, identified only as “Bossu”, arrived at the site with police officers to demolish structures occupied by traders. The traders resisted the operation, claiming they had not received any prior notice or eviction order. The land has been the subject of ongoing litigation in court, with ownership still unresolved.
The situation escalated when traders confronted the police task force, leading to a violent clash. An unidentified man died on the spot from suspected gunshot wounds, while two others sustained serious injuries. One of the traders’ leaders, Ibrahim Alhassan, stated that at least four rounds of gunfire were fired during the confrontation.
Traders accused both the police and the developer of being responsible for the shootings.
The demolition left many traders displaced, with goods and property worth thousands of cedis destroyed or damaged.
The Manhyia District Police Command has since arrested three individuals in connection with the incident. Investigations are ongoing to determine the full circumstances, including who fired the shots and the exact cause of the fatality.
This incident has heightened tensions in the area and raised fresh concerns about the handling of land disputes and the use of force during enforcement actions, especially when court cases are still pending.
