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There was a fierce gun battle at the Ga Mantse Palace during a purification ceremony by the people of Ga ahead of the beginning of the Homowo festivities. A young man known as Sumaila was nearly killed when bullets were fired into his head during the purification ceremony at the palace, making him to sustain serious injuries. Sumaila, who sustained the injuries, was among the people who were present at the ceremony before the incident occurred. According to information gathered, there was near bloodshed which imminent danger was timely averted by the police. Meanwhile the police, according to information gathered by Today, have taken over the issue and are conducting investigations into the matter. However, persons involved have given their caution statements to the police to aid them in their investigations. When the Greater Accra Regional Police Public Relations Officer, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Freeman Tetteh, was contacted he confirmed the incident and said it occurred on Sunday around 4:30 A.M., when members of the Abola House, led by the Asafoatse, Nii Agyeman Quarshie, arrived at the palace with a cow and two bottles of Schnapps to perform a ritual. He indicated that in the process of the ritual, loyalists to the Ga Mantse, Nii Adama Latse, also stormed the premises in a bid to disrupt the process which resulted in scuffles and gunshots. According to the police commander, the people from Abola House were believed to be armed and assisted by land guards. DSP Tetteh said the scuffle led to the shooting of one Sumaila who butchered the cow for the ritual. He disclosed that five persons have been arrested from the Abola House including the Asafoatse, Nii Quarshie, and are assisting the police in their investigations.