The Ashanti Region is fast becoming a new epicentre of the long-standing Bawku chieftaincy conflict, following a disturbing wave of targeted killings that has left four people dead, within just three days.
Barely 72 hours after the assassination of the Kusaasi Chief, Alhaji Abdul-Malik Azenge, two additional coordinated attacks, believed to be linked to the Bawku crisis, have raised urgent questions about the region’s security response.
On Friday afternoon, around 1:00 p.m., two gunmen on a motorbike opened fire on a man at Asawase in the Asokore Mampong Municipality.
The victim, whose identity is yet to be confirmed, was killed instantly, after finishing a meal at a nearby eatery and attempting to enter his vehicle.
Security personnel arrived shortly after the incident and commenced preliminary investigations into what authorities suspect was a calculated, targeted killing.
On the night of Thursday, July 24, 2025 another violent attack occurred at Denase in the Afigya Kwabre North District.
A group of armed assailants, concealed inside a container near a speed ramp, ambushed a black Toyota Voxy with registration number UE 166-25, which was en route to Tamale and carrying seven passengers.
The attackers opened fire as the vehicle slowed, fatally shooting two passengers – a woman and a man identified as Abiola, a Mamprusi native and well-known blogger.
A third victim, a military officer, sustained a gunshot wound to the knee and is currently receiving treatment at St. Patrick Hospital in Offinso.
Sources told The Chronicle that Abiola had travelled from Accra and made a transit in Kumasi. He was reportedly an intermediary between rural Mamprusi communities and political figures, often facilitating donations and outreach on behalf of politicians.
A pistol was reportedly found on Abiola by police investigators. It remains unclear whether he was targeted because of his affiliations or his possession of the firearm.
REGSEC Responds to Kumasi Chief’s Assassination
Amid mounting public pressure, the Ashanti Regional Security Council (REGSEC) has introduced emergency security measures, though critics describe the response as reactive and insufficient.
In the aftermath of the July 22 assassination of Alhaji Abdul-Malik Azenge, REGSEC announced a series of directives aimed at restoring calm, particularly in hotspots such as Asawase.
Motorbike Ban After Dusk
In a statement conveying condolences to the bereaved families, REGSEC announced a dusk-to-dawn ban on motorbike usage.
“No motorbikes shall be permitted on the roads after 7:00 p.m. until further notice,” the statement emphasised.
“The use of unlicensed motorbikes or motorbikes without lights is strictly prohibited,” the statement said.
REGSEC has also suspended the ongoing inter-tribal football tournament with immediate effect. Additionally, it has imposed a temporary ban on the wearing of smocks by motorbike riders, as the garments are reportedly being used to conceal weapons.“
No motorbike rider is permitted to wear a smock until further notice,” the Council warned.
To enhance public safety, REGSEC has authorised the deployment of joint police and military patrols across known hotspots in Kumasi and its surrounding areas.
While acknowledging rising tensions, REGSEC assured residents of the government’s commitment to peace and justice. “All necessary measures are being implemented to ensure the perpetrators of this heinous act are brought to justice,” the statement said.
REGSEC has, therefore, urging the public to support ongoing investigations by providing credible information that could assist in identifying and arresting those responsible for the recent wave of violence.
Meanwhile, in an attempt to contain rising insecurity in the Ashanti Region, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Christian Tetteh Yohuno, has visited Asawase, a community increasingly becoming a hotspot for violent crime following the targeted killing of two individuals last week.
The IGP has vowed to ensure that the perpetrators behind the two fatal shooting incidents that have rocked Asawase within a week are brought to justice.
Leading a high-powered team of senior police officers and investigators, Mr Yohuno on Friday toured the crime scenes as part of a fact-finding mission, amid mounting public concern over the surge in violence.
During his visit, the IGP directed officers to leave no stone unturned in tracking down the culprits behind both murders.
He reaffirmed the Police Administration’s commitment to restoring calm and public confidence in the security services.
Director-General of Operations at the Ghana Police Service, DCOP Vance Gariba, who accompanied the IGP, assured the public that investigations were progressing steadily.
He further ordered strict enforcement of the existing ban on motorbike movement after 7:00 p.m., a directive issued earlier by the Ashanti Regional Security Council (REGSEC) in response to increasing crimes involving motorbikes.
Meanwhile, the family of the late Mohammed Madi Suleman has expressed profound grief and is calling for swift justice. His body was transported to Accra for burial after Islamic funeral rites were performed.
