The tranquil atmosphere of Nyinahin, a town nestled in the Ashanti Region of Ghana, was shattered on Thursday, April 24, 2025, by a tragic incident that left one person dead and three others injured. A somber funeral procession, en route to a local cemetery to lay a friend to rest, was transformed into a scene of chaos and bloodshed when soldiers in a military vehicle allegedly opened fire on the mourners. The incident, which occurred around 11:00 a.m., has sparked outrage and grief within the community and raised serious questions about the use of force by the military.
The sequence of events leading to the shooting began when a military vehicle, identified by its registration number 73 GA 39, intercepted the funeral procession. According to eyewitness accounts, the soldiers’ attention was immediately drawn to one of the mourners, 37-year-old Akwasi Lala, also known as Kushivi, who was wearing a military uniform. The soldiers reportedly ordered him to remove the uniform. As Lala complied with their directive, tragedy struck. One of the soldiers allegedly shot him in the head at close range, killing him instantly.
The horror of the situation escalated as, according to eyewitnesses, the soldiers then began firing indiscriminately into the crowd of mourners. This barrage of bullets resulted in injuries to three other individuals: 44-year-old Kofi Agyapong, 24-year-old Alfred Kwarteng, and 36-year-old Kofi Owusu, also known as Juve. The injured victims were quickly transported to the Nyinahin Government Hospital to receive urgent medical care for their gunshot wounds.
Adding to the gravity of the incident, the military vehicle involved in the shooting reportedly sped away from the scene, disregarding nearby police checkpoints. This act of apparent disregard for law enforcement has further fueled public concern and intensified calls for a thorough and transparent investigation. Following the incident, police officers arrived at the scene to commence their investigation. They recovered 18 spent bullet casings, providing crucial physical evidence for the ongoing inquiry. The body of the deceased, Akwasi Lala, was transported to the Nyinahin Community Mortuary, where an autopsy will be conducted to determine the exact cause of death.
The shooting in Nyinahin has sparked widespread condemnation and demands for justice. The incident has raised a number of critical questions that investigators must address. Why did the soldiers open fire on the mourners? Was the use of lethal force justified? Why did the military vehicle flee the scene and ignore police checkpoints? These questions, among others, are at the heart of the ongoing investigation, which aims to uncover the full circumstances surrounding the tragic event. The community, grieving the loss of a life and grappling with the injuries sustained by others, awaits answers and assurances that those responsible will be held accountable.
The incident highlights the sensitive and often complex relationship between the military and civilian populations. The use of deadly force against unarmed civilians participating in a funeral procession has deeply shaken the community’s trust. A thorough and impartial investigation is crucial not only to bring justice to the victims and their families but also to restore public confidence in the military and the rule of law. The findings of the investigation will be closely scrutinized by the public, eager to understand the circumstances that led to this tragic loss of life and to ensure that such an event never happens again. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of uncontrolled use of force and the imperative for clear protocols and accountability within the armed forces.
