10 Gomaoa Citizens Charged For Rioting

Winneba (C/R), - Ten citizens of Gomoa Fetteh Kese have appeared before the Winneba Community Tribunal charged with provoking riot and attempting to install a new chief. They are Nana Kojo Amanquandoh, John Dadzie, Kojo Agyire, Kofi Ackom, Kwao Panyin, Kweku Attah Broni, Kwame Arkoh, John Owu, Kwame Mensah and Kofi Darkoh. They all pleaded not guilty and will reappear on July three. Prosecuting, Chief Inspector W.E. Domie told the tribunal chaired by Mr. L.L. Bimpong, that on May 25, this year, the accused persons at 4 a.m. were heard singing asafo songs on the principal street of Gomoa Fetteh Kese. The prosecution said during their procession through the town, the accused persons attempted to destool the incumbent chief of Gomoa Fetteh Kese, Nana Abori Awusi, to replace him with a new one without prior approval from the Gomoa Assin Tradional Council and the Central Regional House of Chiefs. The two defence counsel, Mr. A.G. Boadu and Mr. Kofi Annan, told the tribunal that Chief Inspector Samuel Ansah in charge of Gomoa Fetteh Kese invited the Winneba District Police to effect the arrest of their clients without provocation and on false charges. According to the counsel the accused persons were fast asleep in the night when the police unlawfully forced their doors open and arrested them. Counsel said the police subjected the accused persons to severe beatings and kept them in cells for four days. Mr. Boadu said during the arrest the police made away with four million cedis from Nana Amanquandoh's room. He said that there is a chieftaincy dispute in the town between the accused persons and the Odikro who is partially blind, and the case is pending before the Swedru Circuit Court. As a result of the police refusal to allow the accused persons to go back and close their doors after the arrest, their property and about six million cedis got missing.