10 Charged For Assault On Church

The Attorney-General’s Department has instructed the police to prosecute the people who raided the Methodist Church at Antoa, destroyed various items and poured acid on one to the church members, blinding him in one eye in June last year. The victim, James Anane, besides going blind in the left eye, cannot walk or sit properly. He was admitted at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital for surgery from June to October. Last Friday, the 10 suspects who were arrested in connection with the incident, were arraigned before the Juaben Circuit Court charged with conspiracy to commit harm, causing harm and disturbing public peace. They are; Kwame Nkrumah, Benjamin Asamoah, Clement Kofi, Agyei Acquaah also known as Dawuro, Kwadjo Oware, Kingsley Opoku, Kwaku Boadi, Bernard Osei, Kwadjo Opoku and Akosua Domaa. They all pleaded not guilty and the court, presided over by Alex Obeng Asante, granted them GH¢4,000 bail with two sureties each until February 14. The prosecution told the court that the suspects and others on the run, had a problem with Samson Osei, a member of the church, over chieftaincy dispute. On June 27, last year, the group, armed with cutlasses, clubs and other offensive weapons attacked the Methodist Church during church service when they got information that Osei was in the church. The group then beat up the people and destroyed some items. Their target, Osei, escaped through a window. When they left the church premises they met Anane whom they accused of supporting Osei and in the ensuring confrontation, one of them splashed a substance believed to be acid on him.