The Kusasi community in the Ashanti Region and the broader traditional leadership of the Kusaug area have been thrown into mourning following the fatal shooting of Naa Abdul-Malik Azenbe.
The late chief, who held dual titles as the Kusasi Chief in the Ashanti Region and Kaadi Divisional Chief in the Binduri District of the Upper East Region, was gunned down on the night of Tuesday, July 22.
According to initial reports, the assassination occurred in Asawase, where gunmen riding separate motorbikes allegedly approached the chief and shot him at close range before fleeing the scene. The motive for the attack remains unknown.
Law enforcement authorities have launched a manhunt for the suspects behind the killing. In a statement attributed to the Police, they urged calm among the public and appealed for assistance in the investigation.
“We therefore urge the public to remain calm and call on anyone with relevant information to contact the nearest police station or reach us through our emergency lines: 191, 18555, and 112,” the Police statement read.
Details emerging from the crime scene indicate that the chief was first transported to the Manhyia District Hospital and later referred to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, where he was declared dead, according to GraphicOnline.
The incident has drawn the attention of top regional police officials. DCOP Emmanuel Teye-Cudjoe, the Ashanti Regional Police Commander, accompanied by ACP Ebenezer Boyor and a team of officers, visited the crime scene. There, two spent shells believed to have come from an AK-47 rifle were recovered as part of the ongoing investigation.
News of the chief’s murder has reverberated across the region, with prominent figures expressing shock and sympathy. Among them is Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, Member of Parliament for Asawase and Minister for Interior, who conveyed his sorrow to the grieving community.
“As a Member of Parliament for Asawase and on behalf of the good people of the constituency, I extend my deepest condolences to the bereaved family, the Kusasi community in the Ashanti Region, and the entire traditional leadership of the Kusaug area,” he wrote.
Describing the killing as a serious affront to public peace, the MP added, “this heinous act is not only an attack on a revered traditional authority but also a grievous wound to the peace and security we all cherish.”
He gave assurances that the security apparatus is fully engaged in bringing the perpetrators to justice.
“We remain resolute in protecting every citizen and upholding the rule of law. I call on all residents, particularly within the Asawase constituency and its environs, to remain calm and cooperate with the security agencies by providing any information that may assist in the ongoing investigations,” the lawmaker added.
He also extended prayers for the soul of the late chief, offering strength to the bereaved family and community.
“Let us all stand together to ensure that justice is served and that peace continues to prevail in our beloved constituency and nation,” he concluded.
Meanwhile, on Wednesday morning, a large number of mourners—including extended family members, community elders, residents, and well-wishers—gathered at the chief’s residence to pay their respects. In light of the incident, police presence in and around the residence has been visibly increased to maintain order.
The Kusasi people are an ethnic group predominantly found in the Bawku Traditional Area in Ghana’s Upper East Region.
