Ex-queenmother, 4 others to face court for murder

Nana Ama Amissah III, the former Queenmother of Mankessim in the Central Region, is scheduled to appear before the Weija-Gbawe Magistrate Court alongside four others, including a Fire Service officer, on Monday. 

The group faces charges in connection with the alleged murder of Samuel Ampofo, the Mankessim Municipal Director of the National Investigations Bureau (NIB), and Kofi Yamoah. The incident reportedly followed the installation of a new queenmother.

Additionally, three individuals, including a police inspector, sustained gunshot wounds during the event.

Legal Proceedings and Investigation

The Ghana Police Service’s Cold Case Unit has been investigating this case for six years, culminating in the prosecution of six individuals. Initially, 13 people were arrested in connection with the shooting, which took place on December 7, 2019, at Anaafo Estate Junction in Mankessim. However, following a review by the Attorney General’s Office, six were recommended for trial, including the former queenmother.

The individuals set for committal proceedings include James Kofi Obosu, also known as Nana Obosu Amissah, a farmer; Nana Ama Amissah III, the former queenmother; Joseph Kobina Ansah, also known as Nana Okutseku, a Fire Service officer; and Robert Gardiner, a driver. Also among the accused are John Eric Kofi Turkson, alias Nana Edu, and Clement Kwesi Owusu, an electrical contractor and teacher.

It is alleged that Nana Ama Amissah III orchestrated the attack, having presided over a meeting where the suspects reportedly conspired to commit the crime.

Incident Details

The violent events unfolded on December 7, 2019, around 1:30 p.m., during a procession celebrating the installation of the new queenmother, Nana Araba Otua I. Gunfire erupted, leading to the tragic deaths of Samuel Ampofo and Kofi Yamoah.

This installation followed a Cape Coast High Court ruling that nullified the gazetting of Nana Osagyefo Amanfo Edu VI and Nana Ama Amissah III, after a lawsuit was filed by the Paakesedo Nsona Family disputing their legitimacy.

As the procession neared the residence of the Edu Nsona Royal family—one of the factions contesting the Mankessim paramountcy—members of the Aduko Paakesedo Nsona Family reportedly received information about a potential attack. A witness who sought to verify the claim allegedly found Nana Obosu Amissah armed with a pump-action gun, accompanied by Clement Owusu and Nana Edu. It is alleged that Nana Obosu attempted to shoot the witness but missed.

Shortly afterward, NIB Director Samuel Ampofo attempted to de-escalate the situation by urging Nana Obosu to lower his weapon. However, he was allegedly shot at close range, leading to his death. The shooting sparked outrage among the crowd, who overpowered and attempted to lynch Nana Obosu before police intervened.

A postmortem confirmed that both victims died from gunshot wounds. Ballistic analysis of the recovered pellets suggested they were fired from a pump-action or single-barrel gun.

During an identification parade in May 2022, a witness reportedly identified James Kofi Obosu as the individual responsible for the fatal shooting of both victims.

Police Investigation and Arrests

The case was extensively probed by a seven-member team from the Cold Case Unit of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) at the Ghana Police Headquarters. Between 2021 and 2022, investigators uncovered new evidence, including WhatsApp conversations, audio recordings, and witness statements. This led to additional arrests in 2023.

The first suspect, James Kofi Obosu, was arrested in Mankessim, followed by the apprehension of four others. Nana Ama Amissah III was later taken into custody at the CID Headquarters in Accra after voluntarily responding to a police summons.

Investigations linked the attack to a longstanding chieftaincy dispute between the Paakesedo Nsona and Edu Nsona royal families.