OFOASE CHIEF SHOT BY UNIDENTIFIED GUNMAN (SPREAD, MARCH 30, 2010)

THE Omanhene of Ofoase in the Asante Akim South District in the Ashanti Region, Nana Atrefum Ampratwum, is on admission at the Agogo Hospital after being shot three times in his room at the palace by an unidentified gunman early hours of Sunday morning.
While the fate of the Omanhene hangs in the balance, the head of the royal family collapsed and died from shock after seeing the Omanhene in a pool of blood.
The remains of the abusupanin, whose name was not immediately known, have been deposited at the Agogo Hospital for autopsy.
The Omanhene, said to be in his late 60s, was shot three times in the chest, leg and hand. The police found spent shells at the scene of the incident
The District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr De Graft Forkuo, who confirmed this in an interview with the Daily Graphic, said he had personally gone to the hospital to see the Omanhene.
“Doctors told me they had removed some pellets from the body and that he is in a stable condition so we are praying that he gets well,” the DCE said.
The police, according to Mr Forkuo, had invited three people for questioning over the shooting.
The cause of the shooting was not immediately known, but it was suspected to be linked to a chieftaincy dispute in the town.
Last Thursday, a planned installation of a new queen for the area was called off after the District Security Committee (DISEC) advised against it for security reasons.
Quoting eyewitnesses, the DCE said the incident happened at about 1a.m yesterday at the time the Omanhene was asleep in the palace.
He said Nana Ampratwum heard someone knock at his door and thinking that it was someone from the palace, he decided to come out.
Immediately he opened the door, the gunman fired at him three times from close range and bolted.
As the chief fell down in a pool of blood, his abusuapanin who might have thought he was dead, shouted, “They have killed Nana.”
He then collapsed and died minutes later while being rushed to hospital.
The DCE condemned the incident and urged the police to do everything possible to apprehend the culprit.
He said the security situation in the town was calm and there was no cause for alarm.