Court dismisses motion to revoke an injunction order

Asamankese (E/R), Aug. 15, GNA - The Asamankese Circuit Court has dismissed a motion on notice for an order by Barima Kwasi Anyane V, Anum Asamankesehene, to revoke an injunction restraining the activities of the Anums during the Asetenapa festival beyond the area allocated to them.

The Asamankese District Police Commander, Deputy Superintendent of Police George Kinsley Adu, told the court that they received a notification from Barima Anyane that they were going to celebrate the Asetenapa festival, signifying 100 years of Anums settlement in the area.

He said the police received another letter from Osabarima Kwaku Amoah III, Asamankesehene, to the effect that he and his sub-chiefs were peeved that they, who gave the Anums a parcel of land to settle on, had been sidelined in the 18-day festival, but the Anums invited other chiefs to the programme.

Mr Adu said the situation became so tense that the Akyem Oda Divisional Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police Ben Atadana, deployed a number of police personnel to the area to forestall any bloodshed.

He said on July 30 the West Akyem Municipal Security Council (MUSEC), sensing danger secured an injunction from the court restraining the activities of the festival beyond the area allocated to them to avoid a possible clash as the youth of Asamankese had threatened to disrupt any activity at the community centre.

Mr Adu said the court restrained the Anums from holding durbars at the Asamankese Community Centre, Roman Catholic and Methodist Primary and Junior High School premises.

He said the court also restrained them from holding any public activity in the Asamankese town centre or extend their activities to Asuokaw and other surrounding villages, which are under the jurisdiction of the Asamankesehene.

Mr Adu said on August 05, the Anumhene not satisfied with the court action, brought the motion on notice for an order to revoke the injunction.

He said the police also filled an affidavit in opposition urging the court to dismiss the motion.

Mr Adu appealed to all stakeholders to remain calm and respect the court ruling in order not to disturb the peace the area was enjoying and warned that anybody who would violate the court order would be dealt with according to the law.

When the Anumhene was contacted, he said Anum was an autonomous town and was not under any obligation to involve the Asamankesehene in the preparation of the festival since the two of them were independent chiefs.

Barima Anyane said it was as far back as 1971 that the late Okyenhene Nana Ofori Atta, elevated Barima Essah Bediako II, the late Anumhene, to the status of Apakanhene, an equal status of Asamankesehene.

He urged his people to remain calm and assured that the festival would come on as planned.