Five people have been killed in renewed ethnic violence in the Nkwanta South Municipality of the Oti Region, prompting the Inspector-General of Police to deploy armored vehicles and additional security personnel to the area.
In a press release issued on March 26, 2026, the Ghana Police Service stated that the victims, three males and two females, were discovered at two separate locations by a joint security team comprising personnel from the Police, the Military, the Bureau of National Investigations, Defence Intelligence, and the Ghana National Fire Service.
While the victims have been identified, their names have not yet been released to the public.
The police noted that officers from the National Police Operations Unit were deployed as part of the security response, and calm has since been restored following the intervention.
The latest violence stems from a long-standing dispute among three ethnic groups in the area, the Adele, Akyode, and Challa, fueled by tensions over land boundaries and security concerns.
According to a statement from the National Peace Council, the conflict also involves the movement of firearms into the municipality by individuals linked to the groups.
On the same day, chiefs and elders of the three groups signed a declaration committing to an immediate cessation of hostilities and an end to the movement of firearms, the Council said.
The agreement, which also applies to allied groups, requires all parties to remain within their respective land boundaries while ongoing legal proceedings continue.
It further directs the leadership of each group to instruct their members, particularly the youth, to refrain from any form of armed activity, regardless of provocation.
The National Peace Council indicated it would establish a joint committee to monitor compliance with the agreement.
It also called on security agencies to carry out their duties professionally and to investigate all reported incidents of violence, while urging residents to cooperate fully with law enforcement.
In a separate statement, Deputy Superintendent of Police John Nchor, Public Affairs Officer for the Oti Region, said investigations have begun to determine the circumstances surrounding the killings and to identify those responsible.
Police did not indicate whether any arrests had been made.
Authorities have advised residents of Nkwanta and surrounding communities to avoid spreading unverified information and to support ongoing investigations by providing any relevant details.
