Three dead, several injured in Sowutuom Homowo clashes 

Three people have died and several others sustained injuries after tensions flared during the Homowo festival in Sowutuom on Saturday, August 30, 2025.

Eyewitnesses confirmed that the Sowutuom Homowo festival turned violent when the Obrafor of Sowutuom and the son of the local chief were gunned down, while multiple others were left battling for their lives.

The violent incident, which erupted as tensions flared during the Homowo celebrations in Sowutuom, was reportedly triggered by a dispute over the sprinkling of Kpokpoi, a key ritual of the festival.

Videos from the scene, widely circulated on social media, showed bloodied victims lying on the ground as bystanders rushed the injured into pickup trucks for medical attention. Residents described hearing gunfire for nearly half an hour, forcing shops to close and families to flee.

According to local accounts, the violence began when a group from Dwenewoho attempted to sprinkle Kpokpoi in Sowutuom, an action resisted by the town’s traditional leaders. The dispute quickly degenerated into an exchange of gunshots, leaving chaos in its wake.

By Sunday morning, the once-bustling Sowutuom township had fallen silent, with police patrolling the streets to restore order. Many shops remained shuttered, with residents too afraid to resume normal activities for fear of renewed attacks.

Meanwhile, police in a statement reported that three individuals, identified as Abubakar Ramadan Sarbah, also known as Nii Kwashiebu; Theophilus Nii Amu Kwadjan; and Joseph Shaibu Dodoo, lost their lives. Four others sustained injuries. The injured victims, including Enoch Amevor, Samuel Adjei, Nathaniel Doku, and Frederick Lartey, also known as Nii Obrafour, were rushed to medical facilities such as Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital and Ridge Hospital for treatment.

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The Homowo festival, celebrated annually by the Ga people, symbolizes victory over famine and thanksgiving for the harvest. But this year, violent disputes in both Sowutuom and Teshie — where two more lives were lost — have raised concerns about growing tensions overshadowing its cultural importance.