Five people have been killed in renewed violence in the Nkwanta South Municipality of the Oti Region, prompting the Inspector-General of Police to deploy armoured vehicles and additional security personnel to the area.
The Ghana Police Service, in a press release issued on March 26, 2026, said the victims—three males and two females—were found at two separate locations within the municipality by a joint security team.
The team comprised personnel from the Police, the Military, the Bureau of National Investigations, Defence Intelligence and the Ghana National Fire Service. Although the victims have been identified, their names have not yet been made public.
According to the police, the deployment involved officers from the National Police Operations Unit, and calm has since been restored following the intervention.
The latest violence is linked to a long-running dispute among three ethnic groups in the Nkwanta area—the Adele, Akyode and Challa—fuelled by tensions over land boundaries and security concerns.
A statement issued by the National Peace Council indicated that the conflict also involves the movement of firearms into the municipality by individuals connected to the groups.
The Council said chiefs and elders of the three groups, on the same day, signed a declaration committing themselves to an immediate end to the violence and the movement of firearms.
The agreement, which also covers allied groups, requires all parties to remain within their respective land boundaries while ongoing court processes continue. It further directs the leadership of each group to instruct their members, particularly the youth, to refrain from any form of armed activity, regardless of provocation.
The National Peace Council said it would establish a joint committee to monitor compliance with the agreement. It also called on security agencies to carry out their duties professionally and to investigate all reported incidents of violence, while urging residents to cooperate fully with law enforcement authorities.
In a separate statement signed by Deputy Superintendent of Police John Nchor, Public Affairs Officer for the Oti Region, the Ghana Police Service said investigations have begun to establish the circumstances surrounding the killings and to identify those responsible. The police did not indicate whether any arrests had been made.
Residents of Nkwanta and surrounding communities have been advised by the police and the National Peace Council to avoid spreading unverified information and to support ongoing investigations by providing any relevant information.
Source:
www.graphic.com.gh
