Crime & Punishment of Thursday, 19 May 2005
Source: GNA
Aboabo No 4 (B/A), May 19, GNA - A mob led by Charles Agyeman, Assembly Member for Aboabo Number Four, a town near Dormaa Ahenkro, on Wednesday attacked a police team providing security during a ritual at the chief's palace.
The mob vandalized a police van whilst the queen mother, Nana Adomah Kyerekua Ababio, was assaulted.
Four suspects, including a woman, have been arrested and police named them as Philip Damoah Mensah, 51, Charles Agyemang, 47, Akua Ofaa, 52 and Kofi Poku, 35.
Chief Superintendent Christian Dedzo, Berekum Divisional Police Commander, told Ghana News Agency that several of the policemen also sustained injuries.
He said Nana Barimah Okogyeatuo Agyemang, chief of the town, had requested for police protection in view of the youth's opposition to the installation of the queen mother.
Mr Dedzo said he had held discussions with the leadership of the youth who agreed to suspend any action against the performance of the ritual.
"The team was therefore surprised when minutes after the ceremony one of the suspects, Mensah, pounced on the queen mother and assaulted her right under the nose of the police." He said an attempt by the police to prevent the mob from further assaulting the queen mother resulted in a chaotic scene as they engaged in fisticuffs with anybody but the police managed to restore calm. The Chief Superintendent said the mob threw stones at the traditional leaders and the police had to whisk the chief and the queen mother to Dormaa Ahenkro.