Western Region Police Nab Five Suspects in Murder of John Abban Amid Chieftaincy Clash in Agona Nkwanta
The Western Regional Police Command has arrested five suspects linked to the brutal killing of 42-year-old John Abban during a heated chieftaincy dispute in Asemkor, Agona Nkwanta District.
The breakthrough arrests, detailed in a statement from the Public Affairs Unit dated October 21, mark a significant step in resolving the October 6 violence that has gripped the community in fear and division.
According to the official release, the fatal attack unfolded on October 6 when Abban, a local artisan and vocal supporter in the ongoing chieftaincy tussle, was set upon by assailants wielding machetes and clubs, succumbing to multiple stab wounds at the scene.
Eyewitnesses described a chaotic brawl escalating from verbal exchanges over succession claims in the Asemkor stool, a perennial flashpoint in the Nzema heartland where rival factions have clashed since 2023, resulting in two prior fatalities.
Three suspects were nabbed on October 15 in the nearby Funko community after a tip-off led police to a hideout where bloodied weapons were recovered. The remaining duo was apprehended early today in Afuaman Ayigbe Town, 15 kilometers away, following a joint operation with local vigilantes.
“All five suspects are in police custody and will be arraigned before the Takoradi High Court in due course on charges including murder under Section 46 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29), conspiracy, and unlawful assembly,” the statement confirmed, with forensic teams analyzing evidence including CCTV footage from a nearby shop.
The arrests come amid heightened tensions in Agona Nkwanta, where the chieftaincy vacuum—exacerbated by the deposition of the previous chief in 2022—has fueled vigilante patrols and sporadic clashes, displacing 200 residents per district assembly reports. Abban’s family, including his widow and three children, has demanded justice, with community leaders like Asemkor Assemblyman Kofi Mensah decrying the “cycle of violence” and calling for mediation by the National House of Chiefs.
Regional Police Commander DCOP Emmanuel Cudjoe commended the swift response, attributing it to community intelligence and a specialized task force deployed since the incident. “We assure the public of a thorough investigation and commitment to restoring peace,” the statement added, urging tips via the hotline (030-223-1234).
As the suspects—aged 25-48 and including two known faction enforcers—await court, this case underscores the perils of unresolved traditional disputes in Ghana’s rural enclaves, where chieftaincy feuds claim over 50 lives annually nationwide.
