Riot At Hemang 14 Youth for Court

FOURTEEN PEOPLE who the police have now established prima-facie evidence that they were deeply involved in the recent rioting that occurred at Hemang, near Prestea in the Western Region, where property worth several millions of cedis was destroyed, are to be put before the Sekondi Community Tribunal, presided over by Mr. Eric Baah on January 24, this year on charges of rioting and causing unlawful damage.

The 14 people, mostly youths from Hemang, were among 74 people who were initially arrested by the combined team of police and the military who were dispatched to the area by the Regional Minister, Hon. Joseph Boahen Aidoo, to quell the rioting.

Chief Supt. V. Koku Dzukpa, the Regional Crime Officer, who disclosed this to the Chronicle, during a telephone contact, said the 14 people have already been granted bail by the Regional Public Tribunal in Takoradi, following a motion of that effect filed at the court by their counsel.

According to Chief Supt. Dzakapa, initially 74 people were arrested during the police-cum-military swoop, but since the period coincided with the Christmas holidays they secured a warrant for them to be remanded in custody for a thorough investigation into the incident and subsequent screening.

He further told Chronicle that after police investigation and screening, they discovered that 60 out of the 74 arrested had no case to answer and they subsequently applied to the court to grant them bail.

According to him, prima-facie evidence has been established against the remaining 14, who were the latest to be granted bail, following a court order and they would, therefore, be put before the community tribunal to answer charges of rioting and causing unlawful damage.

It was reported earlier by the Chronicle that an agitation by the youth from the aforementioned mining town, including Awoduah, to get employment at the mining company operating in the area, irrespective of whether they have the skill or not, led to violent destruction of property in the town.

The youth had reportedly accused the chiefs from the two towns for failing to help them or use their influence to get them employment at the mining companies.

As a result of this allegation, the angry youth stormed the palace of both Hemang and Awoduah chiefs and violently destroyed every available property they could lay hands on, including the stool regalia, two vehicles - a Landcruiser belonging to the Awoduah chief and a Pajero belonging to Mr.

Ayensu, the Wassa West District Chief Executive,which were also burnt up.

The two chiefs who managed by the grace of God to escape from being lynched by their subjects have now sought refuge outside the towns.

Chronicle gathered that the Hemang chief, whose palace was completely destroyed, is being housed in one of the bungalows belonging to the Prestea Gold Resources, while the Awoduah chief, Nana Angu, is being "detained" at Tarkwa.

Nana Angu, in particular, told Chronicle, when contacted on his mobile phone at Tarkwa, that after that excruciating moment he went through, he has no intention of visiting the town, though available information indicates that the security forces have brought the situation under control.

The Wassa West DCE, Mr. Ayensu, who escaped death by the beat of the heart during the violence but unfortunately got his official Pajero burnt up, also told Chronicle that though there is no military or police presence in the Hemang township, some of the youth who fled in anticipation of being arrested have still not returned.