BY Issah Olegor
The Accra Circuit Court has remanded nine individuals into police custody in connection with the recent deadly riots that rocked Nkwanta in the Oti Region, as investigations into the volatile incident continue.
The suspects, including one woman, are facing a slew of serious charges related to the unrest that left multiple people injured and at least one person dead.
The accused persons—Evans Mawugbe, Donkor Ebenezer, Solomon Amenu, Robert Dzanka, Kenyenso Senyo, Edwin Yeboah, Yudah Adule, Keteke Joshua, and Grace Ordzi—were brought before the court on charges of conspiracy to commit crime, causing harm, rioting, and rioting with weapons.
Presiding judge Isaac Addo did not take their pleas and ordered that they be held in lawful custody until their next court appearance scheduled for July 21, 2025.
The court proceedings follow violent disturbances that occurred on June 26, 2025, when a group of individuals allegedly attempted to perform traditional rituals at the Yam Market in Nkwanta despite a government-imposed curfew.
The ritual activity reportedly escalated into full-blown riots, triggering clashes with security personnel and resulting in widespread panic, injuries, and property damage.
Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Seth Frimpong, the prosecutor in the case, told the court that the suspects were arrested in a joint operation involving personnel from the Ghana Police Service, the Ghana Armed Forces, and the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB).
The joint task force had been deployed to Nkwanta as part of efforts to maintain peace and enforce a curfew put in place following a string of escalating communal tensions in the area.
According to ASP Frimpong, the accused defied security instructions and carried out ritual activities, which incited violence.
The situation quickly spiraled, with gunshots reportedly fired amid the chaos.
Several residents sustained injuries, including victims identified as Emmanuel Popolampo, Azumah Angela, Akwasi alias Commando, and Ruth.
Tragically, one unidentified man succumbed to gunshot wounds after being rushed to a nearby medical facility.
The riots are believed to be rooted in longstanding ethnic and chieftaincy-related tensions that have periodically flared in the Nkwanta enclave.
In recent months, tensions have intensified over disagreements involving traditional authorities, land rights, and socio-cultural practices.
The government has responded by increasing the presence of security forces in the region, imposing curfews, and calling for calm from both community leaders and residents.
The Nkwanta Municipal Security Council (MUSEC) has since reiterated its commitment to restoring law and order while urging residents to cooperate with ongoing investigations.
Meanwhile, the Ghana Police Service has announced that additional suspects believed to have been involved in the riots remain at large, and efforts are underway to apprehend them.
The prosecution told the court that more arrests may follow as intelligence gathering and witness interviews continue.
Authorities have called on the public to provide any information that could aid in the capture of the remaining suspects and help prevent further violence.
