Queen Mother, 21 others in prison custody

Europa

October 3, 2015 4:54 PM

Two persons were shot dead at Akim-Akooko, located in the East-Akim District of the Eastern Region following a violent clash between members of the community and supporters of a fetish priest, Nana Saka.

Queen Mother of Akim-Akooko, Nana Afia Korantemaa

The Queen Mother of Akim-Akooko, Nana Afia Korantemaa, and 21 other people who allegedly incited the youth of the town to attack a fetish priest, Nana Saka have been remanded into two weeks prison custody by the Koforidua Magistrate Court.

Nana Korantemaa, and two other women are being kept at the female cells of the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVSU) in Koforidua.

The remaining 19, which also includes the Abusua Panyin (family head), Yaw Okyere, the Dwantoahene, Kwesi Botwe, and the newly elected assembly member for the area, Yaw Bekoe are in the Koforidua Prison.

They are to reappear before the court on October 15, 2015.

The court was presided over by His Worship, Abdul Razak.

Presenting the facts of the matter, a State Prosecutor, Mr Cyril Boateng said on September 29, 2015, Nana Afia Korantemaa, the Abusua Panyin, Mr Yaw Okyere and the rest who were arrested instigated the youth of Akim-Akooko to attack the fetish priest, Nana Saka which resulted in a bloody clash, and loss of lives and properties.

The lawyer for the accused persons, Lawyer Nyarko Adu pleaded the court to grant the Queen Mother, and the Abusua Panyin bail since they were old, but his request was denied.

Background

Nana Saka last week marked an anniversary and during the activities, he and his followers carried their gods and paraded through the community, incurring the wrath of Barima Bempong Agyedoa Pantantina, chief of Akooko, who summoned him to appear before the chiefs and elders for causing an abomination.

The chief fined Nana Saka to offer one cow, two cartons of foreign Schnapps and an amount of GH¢20,000 (¢200 million), and that after he had presented all those things, he should vacate the town.

However, Nana Saka, who reportedly promised to pay the fine on Tuesday, refused to appear before the traditional rulers and rather went to the Suhum police station to report the matter.

The Suhum Police Commander, Supt Yahaya Muchiraru, later visited the chief’s palace to hold talks with him and the elders; but the action rather infuriated the people, with the queen mother purportedly ordering the youth to besiege the fetish priest’s house and set the place ablaze.

Followers of the fetish priest also reportedly fired gunshots into the demonstrating crowd, resulting in a free-for-all fight in which the factions allegedly used machetes and other lethal weapons.

The protesting youth allegedly vandalised Nana Saka’s shrine and the police started firing tear gas to scare them away.

Two counsels for the accused on Thursday stormed the court to seek for bail for them, but their application was not accepted.

Police report however, indicated that the three policemen who were injured in the clash have since been treated and discharged from the Suhum Government Hospital.

Earlier, the Deputy Regional Police Commander, ACP James Abass Abaah assured the members of the community of police protection.

Currently, there is heavy police presence in the community to ward off any attempt to rekindle the conflict.

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