Alleged Ellenda riot ring leader remanded

The Half-Assini Magistrate Court has remanded into prison custody the alleged ring leader in the recent Ellenda disturbances.

The plea of J. K. Menlah who is on a week remand, was not taken, and the court ordered him to re-appear on Friday, October 23.

The accused person and 10 others are facing charges on six counts, including abetment of crime, assault of police officer, causing unlawful damage, conspiracy to commit crime, rioting, and causing nuisance and obstruction of road.

The 10 are Robert Enyiaku Nyanzu, 62, Ofori Kaku, 32, Andrews Mochiah, 24, all farmers, Joseph Kwaw, 32, driver, and Emmanuel Aloko, 30, teacher.

The rest are Charles Ellae Kenyah, 64, the immediate past assemblyman of Ellenda, Eric Egyili, 22, student, Emmanuel Muah, 25, farmer, Sarfo Marfo, 36, palm wine tapper, and Noah Blay, 30, driver.

They have all been granted bail by the court..

Police Sergeant Isaac Ebo Otoo, prayed the court presided over by Mr Abdul Majid Illiasu to remand Menlah as investigations continued.

He said Menlah, the youth leader of Ellenda, on Friday, August 28, caused Asafo drums to be beaten, and also mobilized his accomplices to riot against the burial of the ex-chief of the town, Nana Kyeku Anyimiah the fourth.

The prosecution said they blocked the access road to the town about 200 meters away with logs and pieces of woods to prevent the arrival of the corpse by the bereaved family to the town for the burial.

He said the police arrested the accomplices and cleared the road for the burial, but Mr Menlah managed to escape.

According to the prosecution, Menlah was arrested on October 14 at his hide-out in Sekondi upon a tip-off.