Pandemonium broke out at the Sakora Park Cemetery in Akyem Kade, Eastern Region, on Saturday, when a heated argument over the positioning of a corpse degenerated into a bloody brawl during an interment service.
Mourners gathered to pay their last respects to 16-year-old Kwaku Nti Augustine were forced to scatter for safety as the burial ground descended into violent turmoil.
Trouble started when observant attendees noticed that the teenager’s body appeared to have been placed incorrectly inside the casket, with his head facing the wrong direction.
A sharp division quickly emerged among those present. One faction demanded the immediate opening of the coffin to realign the body, while another group fiercely opposed the move, insisting that no action be taken without the explicit consent and presence of the deceased’s core family members.
The altercation rapidly spiralled out of control into a free-for-all fight. Eyewitnesses reported that several individuals brandished cutlasses during the clash, leaving a number of mourners with severe injuries. The wounded were rushed to a nearby medical facility, where they are currently receiving treatment.
The violent outburst brought the solemn ceremony to an abrupt halt as terrified onlookers fled the scene.
Local authorities have not yet issued an official statement regarding the clash. Meanwhile, community members have expressed deep concern over the disturbance, appealing for calm and urging families to ensure better organisation during funeral rites to avoid a repetition of such disgraceful scenes.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana