A 32-year-old man, Felix Yaw, has died and six others sustaining injuries after lightning struck during funeral rites at Pai-Katanga in the Krachi East Municipality of the Oti Region.
The incident occurred between 1130 hours and 1200 hours on Thursday, May 7, 2026, while preparations were underway to slaughter cows for the funeral ceremony.
Confirming the incident to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), the Assembly Member for the Katanga Electoral Area, Mr Ericson Boateng, said the weather had turned cloudy, signalling imminent rainfall, when the deceased invited relatives and in-laws to assist in slaughtering three cows for the rites.
He said one cow had already been slaughtered when the group began handling the second animal.
Mr Boateng explained that at the time of the incident, three persons were holding the head of the cow, while four others were restraining its legs.
Mr Boateng said lightning suddenly struck, killing both Yaw and the cow instantly, while the six others sustained varying degrees of injuries, including burns to their hands.
The body of the deceased was conveyed to the Worawora Government Hospital morgue for preservation, while the injured persons were rushed to the same facility to receive medical treatment.
Mr Boateng further indicated that the family was undertaking joint funeral rites for seven deceased persons in line with Konkomba tradition, which requires the performance of a soothsaying ceremony before the rites could proceed.
He said the soothsaying ceremony was scheduled for May 9 to enable the family determine the spiritual implications of the incident and decide, in accordance with custom, whether the carcass of the affected animal should be discarded or consumed.
Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Kennedy Frimpong said the police had been informed and investigations had commenced to ascertain the veracity and circumstances surrounding the incident.
He assured the public of the Police Service’s commitment to thoroughly investigate the matter and encouraged calm while necessary measures were taken to establish the facts.
