Ghana Chief Shoots Himself Dead With Pump Action Gun During Funeral – “Are The Gods To Blame?”
Ayanfuri, Diaso District, Central Region, Ghana – Friday, May 9, 2026. In a heartbreaking and confusing incident that has left many people talking, Nana Kwabena Okyere, the Mmratehene (chief) of the Ayanfuri Traditional Area, accidentally shot himself with his own pump action gun during a funeral ceremony.
The chief died later at the hospital. The sad event happened right in the middle of the funeral rites for Abusua Panyin Akwasi Kwateng at Ayanfuri….WATCH THE VIDEO HERE
According to police reports and people who were there, the chief was taking part in the traditional funeral activities when the tragedy struck. A video now spreading fast on social media shows the chief in his full traditional outfit – wearing a dark cloth with red patterns, green leaves around his neck and shoulders, and holding the pump action gun...READ FULL STORY; FROM THE SOURCE.
He was dancing and moving around under big red and white canopies with drummers playing and a big crowd watching. At one point, he raised the gun. Moments later, it fired and the bullet hit him in the abdomen.
Eyewitnesses say he was rushed quickly to the Ayanfuri Pentecost Hospital. Doctors tried their best, but the chief did not survive the serious gunshot wound. His body has now been moved to the Dunkwa-On-Offin Municipal Hospital Mortuary.
The Ghana Police have started full investigations to find out exactly what happened. They are talking to people who were at the funeral and checking the gun.
This is not the first time something like this has happened in traditional events in Ghana and parts of West Africa. During some funerals or festivals, chiefs and warriors fire guns as part of the celebration or to honour the dead. But this time, something went very wrong. Some people who saw the TikTok video say the chief pointed the gun towards his own body before the shot.
Police are still trying to confirm if it was a mistake, if the gun was faulty, or if something else caused the discharge. No one is saying it was on purpose.
The news spread like wildfire on X (formerly Twitter) after a popular post by @kobsol on Sunday, May 10, 2026. The post simply said: “Chief k!lled himself with his pump act!on g*n. Are the gods to be blamed?” It came with the video and got over 43,000 views, hundreds of likes, reposts and comments within hours. Many Ghanaians and even some Nigerians who saw it started reacting strongly.
One user, @SIKAOFFICIAL1, posted a clearer update: “Tragedy struck at Ayanfuri in the Diaso District after Nana Kwabena Okyere, Mmratehene of the Ayanfuri Traditional Area, allegedly shot himself accidentally with a pump-action gun during a funeral ceremony on Friday, 9th May, 2026.” This post also went very viral with over 57,000 views.
Social media reactions have been mixed – some people are sad, others are making jokes or asking deep questions about culture and tradition. Many remembered the famous play “The Gods Are Not To Blame” by Nigerian writer Ola Rotimi. One person wrote: “The gods has nothing to do with this. In fact, the gods are not to be blamed ✌️” Another replied:
“The gods dont know pump action ooo😭” Some laughed and said the chief might have been drunk or pretending to be possessed by spirits. “I think he was fully drunk but pretending to be taken by the spirits. 😂😂😂” one user commented.
Others were more serious. “No blood,” someone noticed in the video, explaining that the force from the close-range shot probably caused the damage even if the bullet did not tear through much. A few people blamed the tradition itself. “Let’s not make mockery of our own culture with stupid things,” one Ghanaian wrote. Another said: “A gun is powerful than any God. Europeans can testify.”
Nigerians who saw the video on X also joined the conversation. Many compared it to similar stories back home where guns are used in burials or chieftaincy events. Some Nigerians said it shows why people should be careful with firearms, especially during emotional events like funerals. “This one na real Things Fall Apart,” a Nigerian user joked, referring to Chinua Achebe’s book. Others prayed for the chief’s family: “May he rest well. People believe in this and never believe in God.”
The incident has raised big questions in Ghana about gun safety during traditional ceremonies. Pump action guns are common in some areas for security or cultural displays, but accidents like this remind everyone how dangerous they can be if not handled properly. The family of the late chief and the entire Ayanfuri Traditional Area are in mourning. The funeral that was supposed to celebrate the life of Abusua Panyin Akwasi Kwateng has now turned into a double tragedy.
As investigations continue, police have not yet released the full report. They say they will let the public know more when they finish. In the meantime, the video keeps circulating, and people keep debating: Was it just a terrible accident? Or is there something deeper about mixing guns and strong traditional rituals?
Many Nigerians who follow Ghana news say this story hits home because chieftaincy and traditional funerals are similar in parts of Nigeria, especially in the South West and South East. “We dey see this kind thing too,” one Nigerian commented. “Make una take am easy with gun for funeral o.”
This sad event is a big lesson for all of us. Guns are not toys. Whether you are a chief, a hunter, or a security man, one small mistake can end a life. The people of Ayanfuri have lost a leader, and the whole country is asking how to prevent such things in future.
May the soul of Nana Kwabena Okyere rest in peace. Our hearts go out to his family, the Ayanfuri Traditional Area, and everyone who knew him. As the police do their work, let us all pray for wisdom and safety in our traditions.
