The Ghana Police Service has remanded several suspects into prison custody following a violent clash between two rival youth groups at Sankor, a suburb of Winneba in the Central Region.
The incident occurred on Sunday, January 25, 2026, after an earlier confrontation between the two groups was reported to the police. Despite initial interventions, tensions escalated later in the day, resulting in a full-scale clash during which members of both factions allegedly wielded offensive weapons and fired gunshots, causing widespread fear and panic among residents.
Unverified reports circulating in the community and on social media claimed that the clash had claimed at least one life. However, the Winneba Divisional Commander, ACP Ibrahim Opoku, has categorically denied those claims.
Speaking to Citi News on Tuesday, January 27, ACP Opoku clarified that no deaths were recorded as a result of the disturbance.
“There has been no death, as reported. Some persons were wounded, and they are responding to treatment at various hospitals,” he stated.
He disclosed that two individuals sustained life-threatening injuries during the violence and are currently receiving treatment at the Trauma and Specialist Hospital in Winneba and the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital, where they remain under police protection.
“We have made some arrests, and the suspects have been remanded into prison custody,” ACP Opoku confirmed.
He added that calm has since been restored to the area, with police maintaining a strong presence to prevent any further escalation.
The Police Service has appealed to residents, particularly the youth, to remain calm and cooperate with law enforcement as investigations continue. Officers are working to establish the full circumstances surrounding the clash and are actively tracking down other suspects believed to have played roles in the violence.
“Anyone found culpable will be dealt with in accordance with the law,” the police warned.
The incident has once again highlighted the dangers of inter-group rivalries and the use of offensive weapons in local disputes, with authorities urging community leaders and residents to promote peace and report any suspicious activities.
