Five men have been arrested by the Western Regional Police Command in connection with the murder of John Abban, a relative of the chiefs of Butre and Asemkor, in what authorities describe as a deadly chieftaincy dispute.The incident, which happened on October 6, 2025, has rocked the Asemkor community in the Ahanta West District.
Police say tensions had been building over unresolved chieftaincy issues when Abban was attacked and killed by a group of individuals.
According to a statement from Superintendent Olivia E. T. Adiku, Head of Public Affairs for the Western Regional Police, the suspects initially fled the area after the killing.
But after days of surveillance and intelligence work, three of the suspects, Kennedy Abor (30), Kojo Attah Panyi (20), and Joseph Basses (30), were found and arrested on October 15 at Funko in the Western Region.
Further leads helped police locate two more suspects. Abraham Cudjoe (39) and Ekow Painstil (45) were picked up at Afuaman Ayigbe Town in the Ga West Municipality on October 21, in a joint effort between regional intelligence teams.
All five men are now in custody and assisting with the investigation. Authorities say the suspects will soon be presented in court.
In the meantime, efforts are ongoing to restore calm in Asemkor, where the recent violence has left parts of the community unsettled.
