Farmer Found Dead With Gunshot Wound in Central Region; Police Probe Circumstances

A 56-year-old farmer identified as Kofi Sackey has been found dead inside his room at Assin Ketukrom, a community in the Assin North District of the Central Region, after sustaining what appears to be a gunshot wound to the abdomen. The discovery, made on Tuesday, has triggered a formal police investigation as authorities work to determine the precise circumstances surrounding his death.

What happened at Assin Ketukrom

According to a police report, the matter was brought to the attention of the Assin Praso District Police Command at around noon by the deceased's younger brother, Kofi Ansah, who said he returned from the farm at approximately 11:15 a.m. to find his elder brother lying in a pool of blood in his room.

A team of officers led by District Commander Superintendent Eric Yao Avudzivi visited the scene and found Kofi Sackey's body in the middle of the room. He was lying on his back, with a single-barrelled gun resting on his stomach. The wound — described as a deep gunshot injury to the abdomen, slightly above the navel — suggested the incident had occurred shortly before the body was discovered.

A nephew of the deceased, Acquah Emmanuel, told investigators that he and other family members had been watching television when Mr Sackey walked out of the room at around 11 a.m. Moments later, they heard a sound resembling a gunshot. The family went outside to investigate but found nothing unusual. It was only upon Mr Ansah's return from the farm that the body was discovered inside the room.

The police photographed and documented the scene before conveying the body to the New Edubiase Government Hospital mortuary, where it will be preserved pending an autopsy. While the initial circumstances raise the possibility of suicide, investigators have not ruled out other scenarios, and enquiries are continuing.

Why it matters for Ghana

Incidents involving firearms in rural Ghanaian communities continue to raise important questions about gun safety and access. Single-barrelled guns are legally permitted in Ghana for farming purposes — particularly for protecting crops and livestock from wildlife — meaning many rural households across the country possess such weapons. This accessibility, while serving a legitimate agricultural need, also brings with it inherent risks, including accidents and misuse.

The death of Kofi Sackey underscores the importance of proper storage, handling and mental health awareness in rural communities where support services are often limited. Ghana's police service has been working to improve forensic and investigative capabilities in district commands, and the methodical response by the Assin Praso command — including scene documentation and referral for autopsy — reflects the procedural steps required to ensure justice and accuracy in such sensitive cases.

For the family and community, the outcome of the ongoing investigation will be critical in determining whether this was a tragic accident, a deliberate act of self-harm, or something more sinister. Autopsies in cases involving gunshot wounds can provide crucial ballistic and medical evidence that witness accounts alone cannot confirm.

Investigation ongoing

The Assin Praso District Police Command has stated that investigations remain active. Authorities are continuing to verify the accounts provided by witnesses and gather any additional evidence that may shed light on the events leading up to Mr Sackey's death. The results of the autopsy at New Edubiase Government Hospital are expected to play a decisive role in guiding the direction of the probe.

GH Today will continue to follow developments in this case as more information becomes available from the police.