The Ghana Police Service has provided fresh details on how Berekum Chelsea footballer, Dominic Frimpong, was fatally shot during a robbery attack on the club’s team bus in the Ashanti Region.

In a follow-up statement issued by the Ashanti Regional Police Command on Monday, authorities clarified that the fatal shooting occurred when armed robbers opened fire on the team’s vehicle as it attempted to escape the нападение along the Akyiresu—Kwame Dwumor Sreso (KDS) Road on Sunday night.

According to police, six armed men—three carrying pump-action guns—ambushed the VIP bus transporting about 30 players and officials from Samreboi to Berekum at approximately 10:30 p.m.

The driver, upon spotting the attackers, reportedly tried to speed away from the scene. However, the assailants fired multiple shots at the moving vehicle, causing panic on board and forcing the bus off the road into a nearby bush.

It was during this exchange that Frimpong sustained gunshot wounds.

Police said the injured player was immediately rushed to the Bibiani Government Hospital, but he later died while receiving treatment.

The statement further revealed that the attackers succeeded in robbing one of the passengers, George Owusu Afriyie, of GH¢4,500 amid the chaos.

Investigators who visited the scene recovered two spent BB cartridges, believed to have been fired during the attack, as part of efforts to piece together the circumstances surrounding the shooting.

The Police Command confirmed that additional security personnel and crime scene experts have since been deployed to the area, while a manhunt is ongoing to apprehend the suspects.

Authorities have assured the public that those responsible for the нападение and the death of the footballer will be brought to justice.

The latest police account provides a clearer picture of the tragic sequence of events, intensifying concerns over the safety of teams and travellers on major highways, especially during night journeys.

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Berekum Chelsea winger Dominic Frimpong has been killed during an armed robbery on his side’s team bus as ​they returned from an away match in the Ghana ‌Premier League on Sunday, the country’s football association (GFA) said.

The incident occurred on the Goaso–Bibiani road as the team were heading home from the ​game against Samartex in Samreboi in the south of ​the country.

“On our way back to Berekum from ⁠Samreboi, our team bus was attacked by a group of ​armed robbers who blocked the road to prevent our passage,” ​the club said in a statement on Monday.

“Masked men welding guns and assault rifles, started shooting at our bus as the driver tried to ​reverse. The players and staff fled into nearby bushes ​to take cover.”

The Ghanaian FA later said that 20-year-old Frimpong had died ‌in ⁠the incident.

“The GFA has received with profound shock and deep sorrow the tragic news of the passing of Dominic Frimpong of Berekum Chelsea Football Club,” they said in a statement.

“This tragic ​incident is ​not only a ⁠huge loss to Berekum Chelsea but also to Ghana football as a whole. Dominic was ​a promising young talent whose dedication and passion ​for ⁠the game embodied the spirit of our league.”

It said it would strengthen security arrangements for clubs travelling for domestic competitions.

In a ⁠similar ​incident in 2023, Legon Cities’ team ​bus was attacked following a game at Samartex, though no one was reported ​injured.

-Reuters

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The execution of Iranian wrestler Saleh Mohammadi has triggered widespread international condemnation, raising fresh concerns over human rights and the treatment of athletes in Iran.

Mohammadi, who had represented his country on the international stage, was executed on Thursday alongside two other Iranian citizens, Mehdi Ghasemi and Saeed Davoudi, following a controversial judicial process linked to anti-government protests earlier this year.

Iranian authorities allege that the three men were responsible for the killing of two police officers during demonstrations in the city of Qom on 8 January. According to official accounts, the incident formed part of a coordinated violent response during a period of heightened social tension.

Allegations of Forced Confessions and Unfair Trial

Human rights organisations have strongly disputed the official narrative, describing the trial as deeply flawed.

Groups including Amnesty International and Iran Human Rights claim Mohammadi was denied adequate legal defence and forced to confess under coercion. They also allege that the court dismissed claims of torture and ignored the athlete’s retraction of his confession.

Critics argue that the case failed to meet basic standards of due process, citing lack of credible evidence, restricted access to independent legal counsel, and limited avenues for appeal.

Athletes ‘Targeted’ in Crackdown

The execution has intensified fears that athletes are increasingly being targeted in Iran’s broader crackdown on dissent.

Iranian activist and athlete Nima Far described Mohammadi’s death as “a blatant political murder,” alleging it forms part of a pattern aimed at intimidating society and silencing influential public figures.

The case has drawn comparisons to the 2020 execution of wrestler Navid Afkari, which also sparked global outrage and highlighted the risks faced by athletes involved in protest movements.

IOC Responds Amid Calls for Action

The International Olympic Committee expressed concern over reports of mistreatment of athletes but emphasised the limits of its authority.

In a statement, the IOC noted that it is “very difficult to comment” on individual cases without verified information and stressed that, as a non-governmental organisation, it cannot influence the laws or political systems of sovereign nations.

The body added that it would continue engaging through “quiet sports diplomacy,” though activists have criticised the approach as insufficient.

Growing International Concern

Mohammadi’s execution reportedly took place just hours after the United States Department of State called for a suspension of the sentence—an appeal that was not heeded.

The incident has reignited debate over the use of capital punishment in Iran, particularly in cases linked to political unrest. Human rights groups warn of a rise in executions following mass arrests during recent protests, with thousands reportedly detained.

Reports also indicate that several athletes across different sports—including football, boxing, athletics and wrestling—remain in detention, further deepening concerns within the global sporting community.

Mohammadi, a bronze medallist at the 2024 Saytiyev Cup in Russia, had maintained his innocence during trial proceedings, stating he was elsewhere at the time of the alleged crime. His defence was ultimately rejected by the court.

His death is now being viewed as more than a legal case—it has become a symbol of the intersection between sport, politics and human rights.

As international pressure mounts, the execution underscores a troubling reality: for some athletes, representing their country on the global stage does not shield them from the consequences of political dissent.

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