Accra: Two individuals arrested during the Homowo Festival at Omanjor in Accra have appeared before a district court at Adabraka. Christian Saka Ahianyevi, a 35-year-old security guard, and Newtown Allotey, a 26-year-old dispatch rider, are facing charges of conspiracy to commit crime to wit murder, rioting with weapons, and murder. They allegedly committed the offenses along with 30 others who remain at large.
According to Ghana News Agency, the court, presided over by Mrs. Abena Owusu Omenyo, did not take their pleas and ordered that they be remanded into lawful custody until their next appearance on September 29, 2025. The prosecution, led by Chief Inspector Apeweh Achana, stated that the accused persons' pleas would not be taken due to the ongoing police investigation into the murder charge. Efforts are being made by the police to apprehend the other accomplices.
The facts presented indicate that the accused, Christian and Newtown, are residents of Omanjor, Dweneho, Sowutuom, and Dansoman. On August 30, 2025, the Chief and the people of Omanjor and neighboring communities were celebrating their annual Homowo Festival, which includes a procession and the traditional sprinkling of Kpokpoi on the streets. During the procession, the accused and their accomplices stopped the festivities near an area known as 'Police land,' claiming that the Omanjor chief and his people had encroached on their land, demanding that they turn back.
The prosecution reported that a misunderstanding between the factions led to gunfire. The accused and their accomplices allegedly shot and killed Abubakar Ramadan Sarbahaka Nii Kwashiebu, Joseph Shaibu Dodoo, and Theophilus Nii Amu Kwadjan. Several others, including Frederick Lartey, also known as Nii Obrafour, Samuel Adjei, and Nathaniel Doku, were wounded. The injured are receiving treatment at the Ridge and Korle-Bu Teaching hospitals, while some have been treated and discharged.
On August 31, 2025, the prosecution revealed that police intelligence indicated that the accused were involved in the shooting. During their arrest, Christian was found with a locally manufactured pistol and a machete, and 18 empty cartridges were discovered in Newton's room.