The Ghana Police Service has arrested eight suspects, including a chief, in connection with the murder of Nana Serwaa Gyan Kuma, Queen Mother of Abamba in the Amantin Traditional Area of the Bono East Region.
The breakthrough has drawn praise for the professionalism and intelligence-led operations spearheaded by the Inspector-General of Police, Christian Tetteh Yohuno, and the Ghana Police Service in tracking down the suspects behind the high-profile killing.
The key suspect, Nana Yaw Bediako, also known as Nana Yaw, is alleged to have confessed to carrying out the killing, while another suspect, Abdul-Razak Ibrahim Langa alias Zack, admitted being present at the scene during the attack. Police investigations further identified Nana Owusu Sahkofi II, privately known as Charles Kofi Owusu and Chief of Akokoa, as the alleged mastermind behind the murder.
According to police, the Queen Mother was shot multiple times on February 25, 2026, shortly after returning home from work at her restaurant, Ohemaa’s Kitchen, in Atebubu. No valuables were taken from the scene, leading investigators to suspect a targeted assassination.
Police said a major breakthrough came after the Central East Regional Police Command arrested two suspects in Kasoa over a separate robbery-related case.
During interrogation, Abdul-Razak Ibrahim Langa reportedly confessed knowledge of the murder, claiming he was being “haunted” by the deceased Queen Mother.
Investigators say Nana Yaw Bediako later admitted shooting the Queen Mother six times and claimed he had been contracted by the Akokoa Chief for GH¢50,000 to carry out the killing. He allegedly received GH¢40,000 after the murder, leaving an unpaid balance of GH¢10,000.
Further investigations also linked convicted prisoner Isahaku Alhassan, currently serving a sentence at Sunyani Central Prison pending appeal, to the plot. Police say he confessed that the murder was arranged because the Queen Mother allegedly opposed land sales and the installation of a chief favoured by the Akokoa Chief.
The Police Service further disclosed that forensic investigations, intelligence gathering, and coordinated operations involving the Police Intelligence Directorate, the Cyber Vetting and Enforcement Team, and the Anti-Armed Robbery Unit played critical roles in unraveling the murder case.
Many Ghanaians have since praised the Ghana Police Service and the IGP for the swift and professional manner in which the complex murder investigation was handled.
Residents and members of the public have particularly commended the intelligence-driven approach, describing the arrests as a strong signal that the police remain committed to fighting violent crime and ensuring justice regardless of the status of persons involved.
Addressing a press briefing at Atebubu, the IGP assured the public that all suspects connected to the murder would face the full rigours of the law
