Kasoa election shooting: Assembly administrator remanded over attempted murder of driver

A district court in Akweley, Kasoa, has remanded an administrator, Mujaahid Muhammed Suraj, into police custody over allegations that he shot a bystander during the 2024 presidential and parliamentary elections.

Suraj, who the prosecution says works with the Gomoa East Assembly at Potsin, is facing multiple charges including attempted murder, assault, causing unlawful harm, possession of a firearm without lawful excuse, and carrying an offensive weapon.

His plea was not taken. The case was heard by Madam Annie Adobor.

Suraj’s lawyer, Cecilia Naa Afoley Otoo, asked the court to grant bail. But prosecutors, led by ASP Thomas Sarfo, opposed the request, arguing that the key accusations — attempted murder and firearm possession — are first-degree felonies, and that the district court lacks jurisdiction to entertain bail in such circumstances.

Police told the court the complaint was made on 7 December 2024 by Tanimu Adamu Tanko, a businessman and an executive member of the NDC in the Awutu Senya East Constituency.

According to the prosecution, the incident began earlier that day at about 12:00 at the Pentecost Polling Station in Kasoa Zongo (Odupon Kpehe Electoral Area), after a disagreement over an NPP polling agent wearing a tag with party symbols. Tanko reportedly asked an Electoral Commission official to instruct the agent to remove it.

Police say Suraj took offence and allegedly slapped Tanko. The complainant is said to have reported the matter to Suraj’s elder brother at Kasoa Zongo.

Prosecutors say the two later met again at the Odupon Kpehe School Park around 12:30, where another confrontation broke out.

They allege Suraj retrieved a pump-action gun from his Nissan pickup (GT 9590-P) and aimed at Tanko. A witness, Sadahatu Adamu Tanko, allegedly pushed the complainant aside — and the shot instead struck a bystander, Bukari Inusah, who was repairing a mini Kia truck nearby.

Police say Inusah was found bleeding heavily, taken to the Kasoa Polyclinic, and later referred to the Trauma and Specialist Hospital in Winneba. He has since been treated and discharged.

A police team dispatched to the scene reportedly arrived after Suraj had fled.

The Nissan pickup said to belong to Suraj was damaged at the scene and impounded for investigation.

On 9 December 2024, police say five pellets removed from the victim during surgery were handed over to investigators.

A warrant for Suraj’s arrest was obtained in December 2024.

In a later development, police told the court that on 14 November 2025, Suraj’s elder brother, Musah Husein, brought a fertiliser sack containing a pump-action gun to the police, saying he had found it behind their house at Kae Mebre, Kasoa.

Police said Suraj was arrested on 18 January 2026 after intelligence led officers to his hideout.

According to prosecutors, Suraj admitted owning the gun in his caution statement but could not provide lawful documentation. He allegedly told police he bought the weapon in 2024 from a Fulani herdsman known as Buba, who was travelling to Niger, for GH¢4,000.