Irate youth waylay their chief at Manhyia

Kumasi, Aug. 2 GNA - Irate youth from Atwima Agogo in the Atwima Nwabiagya District on Thursday waylaid their chief, Nana Okyere Poku as he arrived at the Manhyia Palace to attend a meeting of the Kumasi Traditional Council.

The youth attacked Nana Poku in front of the Palace and forcibly tried to strip him of his traditional cloth and sandals to customarily signify his destoolment but his bodyguards were able to whisk him away to safety.

In the ensuing confusion Kwaku Mensah, 19, sustained cutlass wounds on his hands and scalp; while Kwaku Nsiah, 20, and Kwadwo Broni, 27, sustained various degrees of injury.

The victims were sent to the nearby Manhyia Hospital. However, Broni was referred to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital. An official of the Hospital, who pleaded anonymity, told GNA that Mensah absconded after treatment without settling his bill of GH=A2 50. The incident has been reported to the Police.

The attack, which occurred before Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene, came to sit in state, did not in anyway affect the Traditional Council Meeting, Mr G.B. Osei Antwi, Communication Director at the Palace, said. Inspector Yussif Mohammed Tanko of the Ashanti Regional Police Public Relations Unit confirmed the incident and said an intensive man-hunt for those involved had been mounted.

The attempted destoolment of Nana Poku, according to some of the youth, was triggered by his failure to fulfil earlier promises he made to reward the youth for the immense role they played in his enstoolment about a year ago.

The Chief was also said to have further provoked the youth by branding them as hooligans and "wee-smokers".