Manhyia Clash: Police arrests two

Kumasi, Aug. 3, GNA - The Ashanti Regional Police Command has arrested two suspects in connection with Thursday's clash in front of the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi which involved two factions in the Atwima-Agogo chieftaincy dispute that left three people injured. A Police source told the Ghana News Agency in Kumasi on Friday that the suspects, who are both drivers, were believed to have been hired to the Palace by the cutlass-wielding youth, who visited mayhem on the three injured people - Kwadwo Broni, Kwaku Nsiah and Kwaku Mensah. The source, however, did not disclose the drivers' names but said they were being interrogated.

With the exception of Mensah, who is at large, Broni and Nsiah are currently receiving treatment at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) after initial treatment at the Manhyia District Hospital. The personal bodyguards of Nana Okyere Poku II, chief of Atwima-Agogo in the Atwima-Nwabiagya District of Ashanti clashed with some youth of the town in their attempt to forcibly destool the Chief, who was attending a meeting of the Kumasi Traditional Council. The Chief was, however, whisked-off into safety.

Information pieced together by the GNA indicate that Nana Poku had in recent times been at loggerheads with some youth of the town following accusations that he had failed to fulfil a promise he made to reward the youth for their immense support that saw his enstoolment last year.

Meanwhile, the Security Unit of the Palace is collaborating with the Police to nab the perpetrators of the atrocities that nearly resulted in a tragedy.

"We are optimistic to close in on those perpetrators, arrest and bring them to book", a source at the Unit told the GNA. Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene, who was preparing for the meeting at the time of the incident, came out to preside over it.