Sakumono killings: suspect arrested near Ejisu, but police papers disagree on his age and on who owed the money

Police have arrested a suspect over the killing of two people at NTHC Estate, Sakumono, in the Greater Accra Region, but the police documents released in the case since Friday do not agree on his age, and the newest statement's wording has led some outlets to reverse who owed whom in the money dispute police say was behind the shooting.

What police say happened

George Atuguba, 57, and his niece Irene Atuguba, 47, were shot at their home on NTHC Estate, Sakumono, on Friday, 30 October, the Accra Regional Police Command said in a press release that day. Both were pronounced dead in hospital.

Preliminary investigations, the release said, indicated that the incident may have been triggered by a financial dispute involving George Atuguba, "who had allegedly borrowed ₵500,000.00 from the suspect but failed to repay the amount". Police said the suspect went to the house that morning with a woman, identified as Beatrice Mumuni, to demand repayment, and that a misunderstanding followed during which he allegedly shot both victims.

A letter from the Sakumono District Police to the Ghana Immigration Service, dated 30 October and published by GhanaWeb, asked for the suspect to be placed on the immigration stop list because he was believed to be trying to leave the country. It said police received a distress call at about 7:20 a.m. that day.

By Saturday, police said they had arrested Beatrice Mumuni, 47, who they believe led the suspect to the house, and offered a ₵100,000 reward for information leading to his arrest. No charge against her had been announced when QMS News checked on 2 November.

On Monday, 2 November, the Ashanti Regional Police Command said Samuel Christopher Osei Anto had been arrested on Sunday, 1 November, at a hideout at Tikrom near Ejisu, and that a Smith & Wesson pistol and seven rounds of live ammunition were retrieved from him. He is in police custody assisting investigations. No charge or court date had been announced when QMS News checked.

Where the papers disagree

His age. The Sakumono District Police letter of 30 October gives his age as 58, and GhanaWeb's headline that day used it. The Ashanti Regional Police release of 2 November gives it as 72.

The victims. GhanaWeb's headlines on 30 and 31 October described the victims as "a couple". The Accra and Ashanti police statements describe George Atuguba and "his niece".

Who owed whom. The Accra police release and the Sakumono police letter both say the deceased borrowed the money from the suspect. The Ashanti release of 2 November says the killings "allegedly arose from a financial dispute involving the deceased, George Atuguba, and the suspect, who had allegedly borrowed ₵500,000.00 but failed to repay the money". MyJoyOnline and Rainbow Radio reported on 2 November that the suspect had borrowed the money from George Atuguba.

The gun

On 23 June 2026, Interior Minister Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak suspended all private firearm licences in Ghana. On 7 July he told Parliament's Assurances Committee that holders of valid licences could keep their firearms until 31 December 2026, but must pass a mental health assessment, a drug test and firearms training to renew, Citi Newsroom and Adom Online reported. No police statement in the Sakumono case has said whether the pistol retrieved was licensed.

The suspect is presumed innocent unless a court decides otherwise.