THREE PEOPLE REPORTED DEAD FOLLOWING CLASH BETWEEN POLICE AND RESIDENTS IN SEFWI SAYERANO

Three people have reportedly lost their lives and two others sustained gunshot injuries following a violent confrontation between police officers and residents of Sefwi Sayerano in the Juaboso Municipality of the Western North Region. According to reports, the incident occurred during a police anti-drug operation in the community. Officers allegedly arrested a suspect after conducting a search at a provision shop. Tensions escalated when some residents objected to the manner in which the suspect was being handled, leading to a confrontation between the crowd and the police. Speaking on Ghana Nti Morning Show, journalist Emmanuel Sowah told host Nana Nhyiraba Kwabena Asirifi that residents feared the suspect might be subjected to further abuse after being taken into police custody. During the ensuing confrontation, gunshots were fired, resulting in three reported deaths and leaving two others injured. The injured victims are receiving treatment at a regional hospital. The incident sparked outrage among residents, who reportedly blocked the main highway into the community in protest, preventing police access to the town for a period. Reports further indicate that community elders, together with the District Chief Executive for Juaboso, Alexander Adu Kusi, later intervened to restore calm, ensure the bodies of the deceased were conveyed to the morgue, and extend condolences to the bereaved families. Witness accounts claim the confrontation intensified when a resident attempted to stop the police vehicle from leaving the community. It is alleged that during the struggle, a police officer discharged a firearm, with one of the bullets striking a bystander. Police have launched investigations into the incident to establish the full circumstances surrounding the shooting. Authorities, including the Member of Parliament for Juaboso, the Minister for the Interior, Honourable Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, and the Inspector-General of Police, have reportedly assured the public that the matter will be thoroughly investigated and that justice will be pursued. Residents have also been urged to remain calm and report suspicious activities to the appropriate authorities rather than taking the law into their own hands.