An expectant mother is battling for her life after being struck by a stray bullet during burial rites at Hiawu Besease in the Atwima Nwabiagya South District of the Ashanti Region.
The victim, identified as 19-year-old Alice Serwaa, was reportedly shot in the abdomen on Thursday March 12 during the final funeral rites of a late queen mother in the community.
She is currently receiving treatment at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi, where doctors are working to stabilise her condition. However, the unborn baby she was carrying did not survive after the bullet reportedly struck the fetus, resulting in a stillbirth.
Assembly Member for the area, Nana Osei Tutu, said another young girl was also injured during the incident after she was reportedly hit in the eye.
He explained that tensions escalated when the local chief arrived in the community with a group of heavily built men believed to be acting as enforcers to maintain order during the burial rites of his late mother.
According to him, the situation turned chaotic after some youth resisted attempts to enforce a directive requiring residents to remain indoors as part of the royal funeral observances.
During the confrontation, some residents were allegedly assaulted and gunshots fired in an attempt to disperse the crowd.
Amid the chaos, Alice Serwaa, who was standing in front of her house, was struck by a stray bullet.
She was initially rushed to a nearby Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compound for emergency treatment before being referred to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital for further care.
Meanwhile, the victim’s family has appealed to authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.
