Two persons arrested during the Homowo Festival at Omanjor in Accra have appeared before a district court at Adabraka.

Christian Saka Ahianyevi, 35, a security guard, and Newtown Allotey, 26, a dispatch rider, have been charged with conspiracy to commit crime, to wit murder, rioting with weapons, and murder.

They allegedly committed the offence with 30 others who are at large.

The court, presided over by Mrs Abena Owusu Omenyo, did not take their pleas and remanded them into lawful custody to reappear on September 29, 2025.

The prosecution, led by Chief Inspector Apeweh Achana, told the court that the accused persons’ pleas would not be taken because of the charge of murder, with police investigations ongoing.

The police are also making frantic efforts to arrest the other accomplices.

The facts are that the accused persons, Christian and Newton, are residents of Omanjor, Dweneho, Sowutuom, and Dansoman.

On August 30, 2025, the prosecution said the Chief and the people of Omanjor and adjoining communities celebrated their annual Homowo Festival.

The festival includes a procession and the traditional sprinkling of Kpokpoi, the traditional meal, on the streets.

While the procession was ongoing, the accused persons and their accomplices stopped it at an area near the “Police land” and, with a group of individuals, claimed that the Omanjor chief and his people had trespassed on their land and demanded that they turn back.

The prosecution said a misunderstanding ensued between the factions, resulting in gunfire.

During the incident, the accused persons and their accomplices allegedly shot and killed the following individuals: Abubakar Ramadan Sarbahaka Nii Kwashiebu, Joseph Shaibu Dodoo, and Theophilus Nii Amu Kwadjan.

The prosecution said several others were wounded, including Frederick Lartey, also known as Nii Obrafour, Samuel Adjei, and Nathaniel Doku.

The court heard that the victims were receiving treatment at the Ridge and Korle-Bu Teaching Hospitals, while some had been treated and discharged.

On August 31, 2025, the prosecution said the police gathered intelligence that the accused persons were among those responsible for the shooting.

During their arrest, Christian was found with a locally manufactured pistol and a machete, while 18 empty cartridges were retrieved from Newton’s room.