Police have arrested the 72-year-old principal suspect in the killing of entrepreneur Irene Atubiga and her uncle, George Atubiga, at Sakumono in the Greater Accra Region.
The suspect, Samuel Christopher Osei Anto, was picked up at a hideout in Tikrom, near Ejisu, in the Ashanti Region, on Sunday, November 1, 2026, two days after the fatal shooting.
The Ashanti Regional Police Command announced the arrest on Monday, November 2, and said a Smith & Wesson pistol and seven rounds of live ammunition were retrieved from him during the operation.
“Acting on intelligence regarding the suspect’s whereabouts, a police team proceeded to his hideout and successfully apprehended him. During the operation, a Smith & Wesson pistol together with seven (7) rounds of live ammunition was retrieved from him,” the statement said.
How the incident unfolded
The killings occurred on the morning of Friday, October 30, 2026, at the victims’ residence at NTHC Estate, Sakumono.
According to the Accra Regional Police Command, officers from the Sakumono District Police Command were dispatched to the house after receiving information about the incident.
On arrival, they found 57-year-old George Atubiga and his 47-year-old niece, Irene Atubiga, lying in a pool of blood.
The two were rushed to hospital, where a medical officer pronounced them dead. Their bodies were later deposited at the Police Hospital Mortuary for preservation and autopsy.
Alleged GH¢500,000 debt dispute
Police said preliminary investigations point to a financial dispute between Mr Atubiga and Mr Anto as the likely trigger for the killings.
According to the police account, Mr Atubiga had allegedly borrowed GH¢500,000 from Mr Anto but failed to repay the money.
Mr Anto was said to have visited the victims’ residence on the morning of the incident in the company of Beatrice Mumuni, 47, to demand repayment.
Police said a misunderstanding allegedly broke out during the encounter, after which the suspect shot and killed Mr Atubiga and Ms Atubiga before fleeing.
Who Irene Atubiga was
Ms Atubiga was the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Kussa Shea Bliss, a shea butter-based skincare and personal-care products company.
Before going into business full-time, she reportedly spent more than a decade in Ghana’s banking sector. Her professional profile says she worked at Ecobank Ghana from 2008 to 2018, including roles in quality assurance, customer complaints and alternate channels.
She later served as Guest Relations Manager at Villa Monticello in Accra, while also building her skincare business.
Kussa Shea Bliss says it sources shea butter from women’s cooperatives in Northern Ghana and positions its work around women’s economic empowerment, sustainable wealth creation and ethically sourced ingredients. The company markets natural shea butter-based skincare and personal-care products in Ghana and beyond.
Ms Atubiga was a mother of two young boys.
Who George Atubiga was
George Atubiga, 57, was Ms Atubiga’s uncle and was killed alongside her at the family residence.
Police have not released extensive details about his occupation or personal life. However, he was identified as the person allegedly involved in the GH¢500,000 loan dispute with the suspect.
First arrest and manhunt
Following the killings, police arrested Ms Mumuni in connection with the case.
They alleged that she led Mr Anto to the victims’ residence before the shooting. Police have not said whether she has been charged.
The police also declared Mr Anto wanted and offered a GH¢100,000 reward for credible information leading to his arrest.
The manhunt ended on Sunday when officers, acting on intelligence, traced him to Tikrom near Ejisu in the Ashanti Region and arrested him.
What police recovered
During the arrest, police said they retrieved a Smith & Wesson pistol and seven rounds of live ammunition from the suspect.
The firearm and ammunition have been retained as exhibits.
Police have not disclosed whether the recovered pistol has been forensically linked to the shooting, but investigations are ongoing.
Next steps
Mr Anto is currently in police custody assisting investigations.
With his arrest, both key suspects in the case, Mr Anto and Ms Mumuni are now in police custody.
The allegations against them remain subject to investigation and the judicial process. Both are presumed innocent unless a court determines otherwise.
Story by Ama Frimpomaa
