Ayirebi-Acquah, 19 Others arrested For Disturbances

Winneba (C/R),

Twenty persons have been charged with rioting in connection with the disturbances which took place at Winneba on the eve of this year's 'Aboakyer' festival of the chiefs and people of the Effutu Traditional Area. Six others, including Dr Ebenezer Ato Ayirebi-Acquah, a former deputy Minister of Defence, and Nana Gyankumah Alias Kweku Adu, former Acting President of the Effutu Traditional Council, have also been charged with abettment of crime.

The rest are Tufohene Siripi, Alias Hammond Donkor, Obaatan Kwame Essuon, leader of Dentsifo number two Asafo Company, Kojo Bondze and Kojo Lapah. The police told the press that all the 26 accused persons will appear before an Agona Swedru circuit court on Monday, June nine. On May two, this year, a group of people who were allegedly not rpt not in favour of this year's Aboakyer festival clashed with the police, resulting in one person receiving bullet wounds.

Police reinforcements from Accra, Cape Coast and Agona Swedru were later rushed in to maintain peace and order for the festival to come off the following day, May three. Investigations conducted by the police later led to the arrest of the accused.