Tragedy hits Kitare-Desani, in the Nkwanta District of the Volta Region, in the night of December 12 when the chief was shot dead in his bed by an assassin. The murder of Nana Akola Baselane, 70, is being linked to a protracted chieftaincy dispute in the farming community.

No arrests have been made yet. As soon as the news of the chief’s murder broke out, a number of residents allegedly fled the town, apparently for fear of a possible swoop by the police.

Briefing the press on the incident, Police Inspector Joy Afagbedzi in-charge of public affairs said on December 12, Nana Baselane retired to bed at about 8pm.

At about 1 a.m., when the chief was fast asleep, an unidentified gun man allegedly entered his bedroom after forcing the door open.

Inspector Afagbedzi said the chief’s wife, who was in an adjoining room, heard the gunshot and rushed to her husband’s room where she found him in a pool of blood. She called for help but before their neighbours could get there, the assailant had escaped.

The wounded chief was rushed to the Nkwanta Government Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.