Disputed Yiidana chief and son shot dead in Ghana, reigniting chieftaincy dispute

District Chief Executive Abdul Hafiz Adam reported that three gunmen attacked the chief's family house around midnight on Thursday. The killings are linked to a longstanding dispute over the authority to enskin a chief for Yiidana, involving the Paboni community and the Zantali-Lana traditional authority. The conflict began when the Zantali-Lana sought to install a chief, which Paboni residents objected to.

The Yaa Naa's palace ruled that the Zantali-Lana had the authority, but the dispute continued. Tensions resurfaced when the Zantali-Lana proceeded with the enskinment, despite attempts by Paboni residents to disrupt the ceremony. Due to security concerns, the newly enskinned chief initially lived outside Yiidana.

About a month ago, the chief's family informed local security authorities of plans to return him to the community. The Municipal Security Council had requested time to assess the security situation, but the family insisted on the chief's return. Local authorities eventually allowed the return on condition of maintaining peace, an arrangement shattered by Thursday night's attack.

Police and military personnel have been deployed to Yiidana, and the area is currently calm, though many residents have fled amid fears of retaliatory attacks.