Gomoa Central Member of Parliament Kwame Asare Obeng, popularly known as A-Plus, has alleged that police officers shot and killed two people during the violent incident at New Winneba in the Central Region.
His allegation comes a day after the September 1 violence left three people dead and several others injured, according to police and multiple media reports. However, the claim that police officers were responsible for two of the deaths has not been independently established.
The violence involved a large group that entered New Winneba on Tuesday morning, with the Ghana Police Servicesaying the group attacked residents and damaged shops, homes and other properties.
The incident has raised fresh tensions between communities associated with Gomoa and Effutu, with authorities moving to strengthen security and prevent possible retaliation.
A-Plus, who represents Gomoa Central in Parliament, has challenged the account of what happened during the confrontation and accused the police of using lethal force against residents.
His allegation is significant because it directly concerns the conduct of security personnel during an incident in which the police themselves were deployed to restore order.
However, the available police account does not confirm that officers killed two people.
The Central Regional Police Command has said three people died in the violence and that investigations are continuing. It has also reported that a police officer was among those injured.
According to the police account, about 300 people from Gomoa Oguakrom, Gomoa Yenkuadze and Gomoa Pomadze stormed New Winneba at about 10:40 a.m. on September 1.
Police said the group was armed with guns, stones, cutlasses and sticks and attacked residents, while shops, stores and private properties were damaged.
Three people were confirmed dead, while about 15 others, including a security officer, were injured and taken to the Trauma and Specialist Hospital in Winneba, according to the police statement reported by the Ghana News Agency and other outlets.
Police subsequently arrested six suspects. They include Kweku Kakraba, 52; Arko Thomas, 19; Samuel Tulasi, 19; Samuel Gyasi, 22; Emmanuel Okyere, 22; and Seth Osei, 22.
Investigators also retrieved a locally manufactured single-barrel gun and an empty AAA cartridge from the scene.
Security has since been reinforced with personnel from several police divisions, an IGP special team and two armoured vehicles from Police Headquarters. Six snap checkpoints have also reportedly been established, with day and night patrols intensified.
There is still some inconsistency in reports about the number of people injured. Early reports from police and some media outlets put the number at about 15, while other reports later cited 17 or 19 injured. The difference should be resolved through an official casualty update before a final figure is presented as definitive.
The number of arrests has also changed across reports, with an initial account referring to seven arrests while the subsequent police identification of suspects lists six people in custody.
The violence has been associated with a longstanding dispute involving communities in the Gomoa and Effutu areas.
However, the exact sequence of events that triggered Tuesday’s confrontation remains subject to investigation. Authorities have urged residents to avoid actions that could lead to further violence or reprisal attacks.
The Effutu Municipal Assembly and Gomoa Central District Assembly have also moved to support injured victims, with reports that the two local authorities have pledged to cover hospital expenses.
The immediate concern is preventing another outbreak of violence while the security agencies establish what happened and identify those responsible.
