Violence Rocks Penteng: Landlord Maimed, Home Torched

Penteng in the Afigya Kwabre North District of the Ashanti Region has been thrown into fear and chaos following a violent clash linked to a long-standing land dispute, leaving one landguard critically injured and a house burnt.

The disturbing incident has reignited concerns over the resurgence of landguard activities in the area.

Information gathered indicates that the violence erupted after a resident, popularly known as Macho, continued with a building project at nearby Patase despite repeated warnings from persons believed to be landguards.

Confirming the development, the Assembly Member for the Penteng Electoral Area, Vincent Yormedor—who represents Penteng, Patase and Pampatia—revealed that the suspect’s project had been demolished on three separate occasions.

He disclosed that on Monday, March 30, three landguards returned to the site, where the building had reached lintel level, and pulled it down again.

Swiftnews3 understands that the suspect later stormed the site to demand answers from the landguards, leading to a heated confrontation.

During the exchange, the landguards allegedly attacked him, leaving him badly injured with blood oozing from his mouth and nose.

In what appears to be a retaliatory move, the suspect reportedly armed himself with a machete and returned to the scene.

Two of the landguards fled upon seeing him, but one reportedly stood his ground.

The situation quickly turned bloody as the suspect allegedly overpowered the landguard and inflicted severe injuries, including severing his left hand and causing deep wounds to other parts of his body.

Police from the Kodie District Command rushed to the scene and transported the victim, together with the severed hand, to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi, where he remains in critical condition.

In a swift reprisal, other landguards reportedly stormed the suspect’s residence and set his family house ablaze, causing extensive destruction.

Mr. Yormedor has since appealed to the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, to urgently intervene in the land disputes affecting Penteng, Patase and Pampatia, warning that the situation is creating fear and panic while hampering development in the area.

He noted that although landguard activities had reduced in recent times, the latest violence signals a worrying comeback.

As of the time of filing this report, no arrests had been made, as residents continue to call on security agencies to step in and restore calm.