A funeral gathering in the Pru East District turned violent on September 29, 2026, when gunfire erupted, leaving a woman fighting for her life. The incident occurred at Tonka, a suburb of Yeji in the Bono East Region, where mourners had assembled to bury Matthias, a man who drowned in the lake roughly three weeks earlier. The shooting has thrown the quiet lakeside community into shock as police continue searching for the gunman.
The woman wounded in the shooting was first rushed to St. Mathias Hospital and has since been referred elsewhere for more advanced treatment. According to reports, relatives are weighing whether to transfer her to the 37 Military Hospital in Tamale or to Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra, both of which offer more specialised care than is available locally. The exact nature of the victim's injuries or her current condition beyond being described as critical have not been disclosed.
The Assembly Member for the Konkonmba Electoral Area, Maxwell Dunu, confirmed that the person responsible for the shooting has not yet been arrested. He said members of the community are cooperating with police to help identify and track down the suspect. Authorities have not yet released any details about a possible motive for the shooting or the identity of the suspect being sought.
The attack adds a second layer of grief to a community already mourning Matthias's death by drowning in the lake weeks earlier. Funerals in many Ghanaian communities, including those around the Volta Lake, are large social gatherings that draw relatives and well-wishers from surrounding towns, making such events vulnerable when disputes or violence erupt unexpectedly.
It remains unclear what triggered the shooting or whether it was connected in any way to the deceased or to tensions among those attending the funeral. For residents of Yeji and the wider Pru East District, the shooting raises fresh concerns about security at public gatherings in the area, particularly funerals, which often draw large crowds with minimal security presence.
The incident has sparked widespread concern and outrage in the community, with many calling for improved security measures at public gatherings. The police investigation is ongoing, with authorities urging anyone with information about the shooting to come forward. No timeline has been given by police for when the investigation might conclude or when an arrest might be made.
The Chale News desk will continue to follow this developing story as police investigations proceed and more details emerge about the victim's condition and the search for the suspect. The community remains on edge as they await news of the suspect's capture and the victim's recovery.
Key points
- The suspect responsible for the shooting remains at large.
- The victim's condition is critical, and she may be transferred to a hospital in Accra or Tamale for further treatment.
- The motive for the shooting and the identity of the suspect are still unknown.
