Tragedy at Gbawe: Queenmother fatally shot at naming ceremony
By DL News
Published
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The deceased, Pearl Naa Dodoowa Whitaker, a mother of two, was widely known in her community and had recently completed her traditional enstoolment rites.
What was meant to be a joyful naming ceremony at Gbawe Zero in Accra turned into a nightmare on Thursday when gunfire abruptly ended the event, claiming the life of a 33-year-old queenmother and injuring another woman.
The deceased, Pearl Naa Dodoowa Whitaker, a mother of two, was widely known in her community and had recently completed her traditional enstoolment rites. She was awaiting her coronation as Naa Agyinafo I of Papaase, a town located along the Accra-Nsawam road.
Eyewitnesses say the shooting occurred around 7 p.m., hours after the ceremony had begun. According to Mary Hammond, a close friend of the deceased, Pearl had briefly stepped away to escort a caterer. Upon returning, she sat by an ice chest, scrolling on her phone—moments before gunshots rang out.
Prior to the attack, some young men had been firing muskets as part of the ceremony, which made the sudden gunshots harder to distinguish at first.
The Odorkor Divisional Police Commander, ACP Kofi Sarpong, confirmed the incident and stated that a man identified as Nii Ayi Solomon—also known privately as Ibrahim Ayi Kwashie Solomon—had reported the shooting. He had hosted the naming ceremony at his residence and is now in police custody to assist with ongoing investigations.
Authorities have yet to determine the motive or identify the gunmen involved. Police have cordoned off the crime scene, and forensic teams are working to gather evidence.
