By: Kenneth Appiah Bani
A joint security operation involving the Eastern Regional Police Command, the Ghana Armed Forces, and National Security has led to the arrest of eleven individuals and the retrieval of firearms and ammunition in connection with a deepening chieftaincy dispute in Adombrobe, near Aburi, within the Akuapem South Municipality.
The intelligence-led operation, spearheaded by the Aburi District Police Command, was executed in two phases. On Sunday, May 3, 2026, ten suspects were apprehended during an initial swoop. A follow-up operation on Monday, May 4, resulted in the arrest of an additional suspect, bringing the total number of detainees to eleven.
Security officials confirmed that the operation also led to the retrieval of pump-action rifles and a quantity of ammunition, raising concerns about the potential for violence linked to the protracted traditional leadership dispute in the area.
The suspects have been identified as Dawu Joseph, 32, a farmer; Evans Dekadzor, 34, a security man; Kwame Aboagye, 45, a vulcanizer; Christian Atsu, 28, a security man; Samuel Annan, 29, a security man; Thomas Davidson, 34, a security man; Abusuapanyin Owusu Paul, 56, a member of the Adombrobe Asekyere; Richard Agyekum, 35, a security man; Jerry Johnson Kwame Atilla, 42, a businessman based in Sowutuom; and Samuel Obeng, a taxi driver in Adombrobe.
The eleventh suspect, Douglas Amoako Danquah, was arrested separately on Monday after he was reportedly paraded through the town in a celebratory procession, suggesting he had been installed as a rival chief an act believed to have further inflamed tensions in the community.
Addressing the media, Deputy Eastern Regional Police Commander ACP Richard Appiah stated that the coordinated security intervention was necessary to restore calm and prevent further escalation of the dispute. He emphasized that the possession of unauthorized firearms posed a significant threat to public safety and warranted immediate action.
Authorities have assured residents that security presence in the area will be maintained as investigations continue. The suspects are expected to be processed in accordance with the law, while efforts are underway to de-escalate tensions and facilitate a peaceful resolution to the chieftaincy impasse.
The situation in Adombrobe remains tense but under control, as security agencies intensify surveillance to prevent any resurgence of violence.
