Two remanded over Homowo festival shooting at Omanjor

Two persons arrested during the Homowo Festival at Omanjor in Accra have appeared before the Adabraka District Court.

Christian Saka Ahianyevi, 35, a security guard, and Newtown Allotey, 26, a dispatch rider, have been charged with conspiracy to commit crime to wit murder, rioting with weapons, and murder.

They allegedly committed the offences with 30 others who are currently at large.

The court, presided over by Mrs Abena Owusu Omenyo, did not take their pleas and remanded them into lawful custody to reappear on September 29, 2025.

The prosecution, led by Chief Inspector Apeweh Achana, told the court that the pleas of the accused would not be taken because of the murder charge, with police investigations still ongoing. He added that frantic efforts were being made to arrest the other accomplices.

The facts of the case are that the accused persons, Christian and Newton, are residents of Omanjor, Dweneho, Sowutuom and Dansoman.

On August 30, 2025, the Chief and people of Omanjor and adjoining communities celebrated their annual Homowo Festival, which included a procession and the traditional sprinkling of Kpokpoi, the traditional meal, on the streets.

While the procession was ongoing, the accused and their accomplices allegedly stopped it near the “Police land” area. Together with a group of individuals, they claimed that the Omanjor chief and his people had trespassed on their land and demanded that they turn back.

According to the prosecution, a misunderstanding ensued between the factions, resulting in gunfire. During the shooting, the accused persons and their accomplices allegedly killed Abubakar Ramadan Sarbahaka Nii Kwashiebu, Joseph Shaibu Dodoo, and Theophilus Nii Amu Kwadjan.

Several others sustained injuries, including Frederick Lartey, also known as Nii Obrafour, Samuel Adjei, and Nathaniel Doku. The court was informed that some of the injured were still receiving treatment at the Ridge and Korle-Bu Teaching Hospitals, while others had been treated and discharged.

On August 31, 2025, the police gathered intelligence linking the accused to the shootings. During their arrest, Christian was found with a locally manufactured pistol and a machete, while 18 empty cartridges were retrieved from Newton’s room.