Omanhene of Acherensua Acquitted And Discharged

Professor Agyewodin Adu-Gyamfi Ampem II, Omanhene of Acherensua in Brong Ahafo Region was yesterday acquitted and discharged by the Sunyani High Court Two presided by Mr Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie.

The Omanhene has been standing trial since April 8 for allegedly killing one Nii Attuquaye Quansah of Acherensua through a gunshot on April 17, 2001.

Quansah was among a group of youth of Acherensua, who allegedly attacked the Omanhene at his residence on the day of the incident.

A seven-member jury of the court took almost one-and-a-half hours from 11:00am to 12:30pm to deliberate to return a unanimous verdict of not guilty.

When Mr Justice Baffoe-Bonnie asked the jury for its verdict, the foreman stood up and announced: "Nana is not guilty of the first charge of murder."

Justice Baffoe Bonnie, therefore, pronounced his ruling: "Nana, having been found not guilty, you are hereby acquitted and discharged."

Immediately after the ruling, sympathisers and relatives of the Omanhene, who formed the majority of the people in the courtroom, applauded the decision and some of them surged forward towards the dock to shake hands with him.