The Ghana Police Service has arrested several suspects, including Nana Owusu Sahkofi II, the Chief of Akoako, in connection with the murder of Queen Mother Nana Serwah Gyan Kuma, and a fatal filling station heist in the Atebubu-Amantin Municipality of the Bono East region.
The arrests were announced by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Christian Tetteh Yohuno, during a press conference in Atebubu today.
He explained that Nana Serwah Gyan Kuma, Queen Mother of Abamba, was shot and killed at her residence in Atebubu on 25th February 2026, stating that the breakthrough came after police in Kasoa intercepted a gang planning a separate robbery.
During interrogation, he said, suspect Abdul-Razak Ibrahim Langa, alias “Zack,” confessed voluntarily, claiming that torment by the ghost of the queen mother drove him to speak.
Further investigations identified Nana Yaw Bediako, alias “Nana Yaw,” as the gunman, Mr Yohuno, said.
The IGP stated that Bediako confessed to the murder and implicated Nana Owusu Sahkofi II, also known as Charles Kofi Owusu, as the mastermind, stating that the chief allegedly hired the gang for GH¢50,000.
Additional arrests included Emmanuel Agyemang Darko, the Abakomanhene of Akokoa, and Bukari Amadu, a driver linked to the conspiracy.
Isahaku Alhassan, alias “Sule Yangani,” who is currently serving a prison sentence at Ankaful Maximum Security Prison but in custody at the Sunyani Central Prison pending an appeal hearing of his conviction is also connected to the case.
The convict suspect, Isahaku, admitted the offences of conspiracy to commit crime and murder, and stated that he was contracted by the Akokoa Chief, Nana Owusu Sahkofi II to get someone to murder the Queenmother of Abamba because she was blocking him from selling Abamba lands and also prevented him from enstooling a new chief of his choice at Abamba.
The convict suspect further confessed that the chief sent his nephew to transfer through a MoMo agent a total amount of GHS21,000 out of which GHS 18,000 was used to procure a pistol and GHS 3000 for the purchase of ammunition for suspect Nana Yaw Bediako to murder the Queenmother.
He indicated that the weapon and the bullets were delivered to Nana Yaw Bediako by one Hudu.
The convict suspect further stated that the Akokoa chief sent his nephew to transfer an amount of GHS 70,000 to him in prison to pay for the job of murdering the queen mother and subsequently dispensed the money as instructed.
In a related incident, the IGP revealed the apprehension of eight suspects linked to an armed robbery at GB Oil filling station near Atebubu on 2nd May 2026, which resulted in two fatalities and two injuries.
The IGP stated that their intelligence revealed that the operation was orchestrated by rival filling station operator, Razak Osman, alias “Alhaji Gao,” who hired the Nuhu gang for the attack.
The gang monitored the owner’s movements, but the target left minutes before the ambush, prompting the gunmen to open fire on bystanders.
Alhaji Gao and two key gang members, Nuhu Awudu and Dauda Issah, died during police operations.
Three other suspects – Adamu, 27; Sule Amadu Sobah, 22; and Abdulai Ali, 45 – are in custody, while two female suspects on police inquiry bail are identified as nursing mothers.
Mr Yohuno said the operations were conducted by a joint task force comprising the Police Intelligence Directorate, the Cyber Vetting and Enforcement team, the Anti-Armed Robbery Unit, and the Bono East Regional Command.
The IGP commended the officers and the community for their cooperation, issuing a stern warning to criminal networks across Ghana, emphasising that the police are actively pursuing them.