A 38-year-old man has been tragically shot dead in his vehicle along the busy highway linking Kumasi and Techiman in what authorities now believe to be a chilling case of mistaken identity.
The victim, whose name is being withheld pending full family notification, was discovered lifeless in his car under circumstances that initially pointed to a targeted attack. However, two days after the incident, emerging information suggested that the deceased may have been wrongly identified as Sheikh Alhassan Musah, a former accounts clerk and Imam associated with Uthmaniya Senior High School (Al-Jallal Mosque) in Kumasi,the Ashanti Regional Capital .
Sheikh Alhassan Musah reportedly came under intense public scrutiny following comments he made during a Tuesday morning religious broadcast on Haske Radio 91.7 in Kumasi.
In his sermon, the cleric is said to have emphasized that Ghana is a constitutional state and not governed by religious law. He reportedly stated that no individual has the right to take the law into their own hands to harm or punish members of the LGBTQ+ community.
The remarks, though framed as a call for adherence to national law and peaceful coexistence, sparked strong backlash within sections of the Sunni Muslim community. Some local religious leaders and followers interpreted the comments as sympathetic toward LGBTQ+ persons, a highly contentious issue in Ghana’s socio-religious landscape.
In the days following the broadcast, tensions escalated. Community members reportedly organized meetings and openly criticized the cleric’s position. Reports indicate that some leaders within the Sunni sect publicly distanced themselves from him, and a declaration described as a “fatwa” was allegedly pronounced by certain figures, condemning his stance.
According to sources within the community, the controversy moved beyond verbal condemnation. There were reported attempts by some aggrieved youth to confront Sheikh Musah at his residence.
However, he was not found at home during these visits.
It is within this volatile atmosphere that investigators believe the fatal shooting occurred.
Authorities are now examining whether the slain 38-year-old man was mistakenly targeted due to a physical resemblance to the embattled cleric.
Police have not yet released an official statement confirming the mistaken identity theory, but sources close to the investigation suggest that this line of inquiry is being treated as a primary focus.
The killing has sent shockwaves through both the local Muslim community and the broader public. Residents along the Kumasi–Techiman stretch describe the incident as deeply disturbing, raising concerns about rising vigilantism and the dangerous consequences of religious extremism.
Legal experts have emphasized that Ghana’s constitution guarantees freedom of speech and religion, while also reserving the enforcement of laws exclusively to the state. Any attempt by individuals or groups to mete out punishment outside the judicial system constitutes a criminal offense.
Human rights advocates have also called for calm, urging community leaders to promote dialogue rather than division. They stress that disagreements over religious or moral interpretations must never translate into violence.
Security analysts warn that if the mistaken identity theory is confirmed, the case would represent not only a tragic loss of innocent life but also a stark reminder of how inflammatory rhetoric and mob sentiment can spiral into deadly consequences.
Law enforcement agencies are reportedly working to track down those responsible for the shooting. Authorities are expected to review surveillance footage, mobile phone data, and eyewitness accounts from the area to piece together the sequence of events.
Meanwhile, the family of the deceased is left grappling with a devastating loss — one that may have occurred simply because of a resemblance to another man at the center of a religious controversy.
As investigations continue, many Ghanaians are calling for restraint, accountability, and a recommitment to peaceful coexistence in a nation long regarded as a beacon of stability in the region.
Further updates are expected as police conclude their inquiries.
