A demolition exercise at Denkyira, near Domeabra in the Ga South Municipality, turned violent on Wednesday after a 19-year-old Senior High School student was allegedly shot during a confrontation between police and residents.

The victim, identified as Odartey Lamptey, is a Form Two student who had reportedly returned home just a day before the incident.

Eyewitnesses report that tensions escalated when some youths clashed with police officers supervising the demolition exercise. In the ensuing chaos, gunshots were fired, and a stray bullet reportedly struck the victim in the abdomen and exited through his back.

He was rushed to the FK Effah Community Hospital at Domeabra in a critical condition.

Confirming the incident, the Administrator and Manager of the facility, Ibrahim Napson, said the victim was brought in with life-threatening injuries but was stabilised by medical staff before being referred to the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC) in Accra for further treatment.

Dr. Napson also disclosed that portions of the hospital’s ongoing expansion project were affected by the demolition exercise being carried out by a private company, FK Asare.

Relatives of the victim, who spoke in an interview with Nana Ansah, said he was at home in Denkyira and had stepped out briefly to visit a family member when he was caught in the crossfire.

The incident has heightened tensions in the area, with residents expressing anger over the demolition exercise and the alleged use of live ammunition by security personnel.

However, the head of the Nii Djan Bi Amu family, Nii Gamu Osmanu Tackie Okai, has stated that FK Asare does not own the vast tracts of land within the community.

Source: Nana Ansah Matthew