Osu rioters in court

Accra, Aug. 7, GNA - Five out of 14 persons who allegedly vandalised property at the Osu Mantse's Palace have been put before an Accra Circuit Court for conspiracy, causing unlawful damage, unlawful entry and assault. The five are Lawrence Quist, Samuel Dowuona, Paul Dowuona, Seth Adom, Saban Asten pleaded not guilty and the court admitted them to bail in the sum of GH¢15,000 with a surety each to reappear on August 13. In admitting them to bail, the court, presided over Mr Mahamadu Iddrisu warned the accused persons not to go the Palace until the final determination of the case. The defence team prayed for bail.

The court issued bench warrant for nine accomplices who failed to appear in court. Deputy Superintendent of Police Mr Kofi Blagodzi told the court that there were legal procedures to destool a chief saying, the accused persons needed not to have resorted to rioting that caused extensive damage to property. The case as presented by DSP Kofi Blagodzi is that at about 1000 hours on June 26, the Kpeshie Divisional Police Commander, Chief Superintendent Elizabeth Dassah, received intelligence report that some youth were planning to take over the Palace, because they had received an extract from the national house of Chiefs destooling the Osu Mantse. The divisional commander therefore invited some elders, including Quist as well as elders from the Dowuona clan and advised them to use due process of the law and not take the law into their own hands. Soon after the meeting the two parties promised to use the due process of the law also advise the youth to desist from taking the law into their hands.

However, Quist, Samuel, Paul, Adom and Asten went to Maamobi and Nima 441 to mobilise nine people to invade the palace. At about 1830 hours on June 26, the accused persons armed themselves with offensive weapons invaded the palace and attacked six members of the Besheo Cultural Troupe who were rehearsing and destroyed their drums.

The prosecution said Nii Ofori Nortey, secretary to the Osu Mantse, who was at the scene, called the Police and when the accused saw them, they put off the lights and started throwing flower pots and other offensive weapons at the police/military personnel. It was when a reinforcement team was called in that the accused surrendered.