10 remanded over chieftaincy violence

A Kumasi Circuit Court has ordered 10 people to be held in police custody for their alleged involvement in chieftaincy violence at Suakwai near Akropong in the Atwima-Nwabiagya district. They are Richard Osei Kwadwo, 32, Razak Musah, 22, Arafat Mohammed, 21, Yaw Boakye, 20, Toffick Abdallah, 18, and Aziz Osman, 20. The rest are Mohammed Iddrisu, 20, Victor Attah, 19, Kwadwo Gariba, 22, and 19-year old Kwame Owusu. They face charges of conspiracy to commit crime, threat of death and carrying offensive weapons Their pleas were not taken and would re-appear on Monday, January 24. Police Detective Inspector Martin Assenso told the court presided over by Mr Justice William Boampong that all the accused persons, except Osei, a nephew of the Chief of Suakwai, Nana Adjei Addo, reside at Old Tafo. For some time now there has been a raging dispute between Nana Addo and elders of the royal family. On Sunday, January 9, this year, Osei allegedly travelled to Old Tafo and engaged the services of the other accused persons to cause mayhem at Suakwai. The prosecution said the police got wind of their action and personnel of the Buffalo Unit were quickly sent there to restore law and order. They managed to arrest the accused persons and retrieved cutlasses, knives and an axe from them. Police Inspector Assenso said the nine in their caution statement to the police said they were hired by Osei. Police investigations are still on-going to get the other accomplices, who slipped through arrest.