AKETEKYI CONFLICT CLAIMS ONE MORE LIFE (Page 43)

Story: Kwame Asiedu Marfo, Takoradi

THE chieftaincy conflict at Aketekyi, near Princes Town in the Ahanta West District, has claimed another life, following renewed
violence in the area last Thursday. The latest victim is a 65-year-old man, Kwaku Adofo.
This brings the number of deaths in the conflict to three. The others are Nana Tabi Tiaka, a sub-chief installed at Aketekyi by Nana Kundumua IV, one of the two feuding chiefs at Princess Town, and John Yankey.
Following the latest troubles, people have been arrested and remanded in police custody to appear before the Takoradi District Magistrate Court on Friday, November 30.
They are facing charges of rioting, causing harm, fighting with offensive weapons and causing damage.
The Crime Officer of the Kwesimintsim Divisional Police in Takoradi, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Boakye Ansah, who disclosed this to the Daily Graphic, said 23 people, including Nana Kundumua V, a rival chief at Princess Town, had been identified at a parade to identify leaders of the violent actions at Princess Town and Aketekyi.
He said they were arrested during a swoop and that they would be screened and those found culpable prosecuted.
ASP Ansah explained that the suspects were put before the district magistrate court for them to be remanded for the police to conduct the screening in order not to violate the 48-hour constitutional requirement that a suspect should not be put in custody for more than 48 hours without being sent to court.
He said 23 houses, including the palace of Nana Kundumua V, were set ablaze.
According to ASP Ansah, the situation was calm but the police were still patrolling the two towns.
He said Aketekyi had been deserted but the people were being encouraged to return.
He said post-mortem on Yankey had been done at the Effia Nkwanta Government Hospital in Sekondi.
The body of the latest victim has been deposited at the Nana Dekyi Hema Hospital at Dixcove, awaiting post-mortem at the Effia Nkwanta Government Hospital.