Blows In Takoradi Court

HELL BROKE loose at the Takoradi District Magistrate Court last Friday when during proceedings, one of those standing trial for rioting in the recent Princess Town and Aketekyi chieftaincy dispute in the Ahanta West District, Kojo Jonfia, engaged a personnel of the Community Police in fisticuffs.

The presiding magistrate, His Worship Samuel Entee Jnr., had to run for dear life as he quickly entered his chambers, while police personnel and the community police rushed to the scene to contain the situation.

The incident nearly escalated into a free-for-all fight as some relatives of the accused persons at the court premises tried to forcefully enter the courtroom, but were prevented by police personnel who were on duty.

Jonfia was among the 54 suspects arrested by a combined police and military team in connection with chieftaincy disturbances in the twin-towns of Princess Town and Aketekyi in the Western Region, who were standing trial at the court.

The court remanded 23 of the suspects in police custody while 29 of them were granted bail in the sum of ¢10 million with one surety each to re-appear on December 14, 2007.

The court however discharged two persons, namely Rev. Charles Kwesi Entsie, for lack of evidence and Kwabena Obeng, who the prosecutor said was only in the area to visit his relatives at the time of the disturbances.

The suspects were charged with rioting with offensive weapons, causing unlawful damage and causing unlawful harm. The court did not take their pleas.

The drama began when the magistrate ordered that 29 of the 54 persons arrested be granted bail, prompting Inspector Michael Ahiadzu, the prosecutor and some personnel of the community police to separate those remanded from those granted bail.

During the process, Jonfia, one of the remanded persons, stood up and tried to go out but was prevented by one of the community police men from doing so.

Jonfia claimed a relative of his wanted to discuss something with him outside the courtroom but the community police personnel said it was not time for him to move out of the courtroom.

Jonfia suddenly pushed the community police man, causing him to fall in the laps of some people in the courtroom, and this resulted in the exchanging of blows, which disrupted proceedings for about 15 minutes.

Some police and community police personnel quickly separated the two before alerting the magistrate, who returned to continue proceedings.

As if that was not enough, Jonfia caused a stir outside the courtroom as well when he refused to get on board the police vehicle, a scene which attracted a lot of people from the Takoradi Market Circle.

The Kwesimintsim District Commander of Police, ASP Magnus Sam had to come in to persuade Jonfia to join the police vehicle before he did so.

It would be recalled that supporters of Nana Kundumoa IV and Nana Kundumoa V, both of Princess Town, clashed on Wednesday November14, 2007 and renewed hostilities over a protracted chieftaincy dispute.

The clashes led to the death of Nana Tobiti Ackah, 47, appointed by Nana Kundumoa IV as chief of Aketekyi near Princess Town and John Yankey, a 26-year-old farmer from Aketekyi.

A combined military and police team was therefore dispatched to the area and 47 suspects were initially arrested, with seven others being apprehended later.

The body of Nana Ackah has been deposited at the Dixcove Hospital morgue, whereas that of Yankey is at the Effia-Nkwanta Hospital morgue awaiting autopsy.

About 30 houses were completely burnt down by the angry rioters, while several others were demolished in Princess Town and Aketekyi, with residents, mostly males, deserting the towns.

From Emmanuel Opoku, Takoradi