Okorase land feud turns bloody as Zongo chief, residents shot

A simmering land conflict in Okorase, a community near Adeiso in the Upper West Akim District, erupted into violence on Friday, leaving the local Zongo chief and two residents with gunshot wounds.

The confrontation broke out shortly after the Muslim community had finished its afternoon prayers around 3 p.m.

Eyewitnesses told Adom News that a group of armed men stormed the town in search of the Zongo Chief, Sariki Aminu. They claimed they had been sent to escort him to the police headquarters in Accra.

According to Okorase Amankrado, Nana Kwadwo Arhin III, the chief asked the armed men to show proof of their authority.

When they failed to present any identification, tensions escalated. In the struggle that followed, the Zongo chief was shot in the shoulder. Two men who attempted to defend him also sustained gunshot injuries. All three victims were rushed to a health facility, with the chief’s condition described as the most serious.

Residents reported the matter to the Adeiso police, but before calm could be restored, another wave of violence hit the community.

Later in the evening, a separate group of armed individuals—believed by locals to be national security operatives—invaded Okorase and arrested about 15 people without explanation.

The sudden arrests intensified fear, prompting several residents to abandon their homes overnight.

Local leaders say the atmosphere in the town has become one of panic and uncertainty, with many questioning the identity and motives of the heavily armed men.

In an interview, Nana Kwadwo Arhin III appealed for urgent intervention from state authorities. “The chiefs and assembly members are calling on the Inspector General of Police and the President to step in immediately,” he said.

The incident highlights the recurring pattern of violence associated with land disputes in Ghana, where private land guards or unidentified gunmen often clash with communities, sometimes under the guise of state security operations.

Residents of Okorase are demanding an independent probe to establish who was behind the attacks, hold the perpetrators accountable, and ensure a peaceful resolution to the land feud.