Violence erupted at the Manhyia Palace yesterday when an attempt to resolve the chieftaincy dispute at Atwima Agogo near Kumasi turned into a bloody clash with four people sustaining severe injuries.

Machete wielding factions in the dispute splashed blood in front of the main entrance to the Otumfuo’s Court after which the four in critical conditions were rushed to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital.

A police team quickly moved in to prevent further disturbances.

The injured whose identities were not immediately known were initially taken to the Manhyia Hospital but they were rushed to KATH because of the critical nature of their conditions.

The Atwima Agogo area has experienced two killings in strange circumstances attributed to the dispute and the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has invited the Chief Nana Okyere Poku and his opponents to his court in a bid to find a lasting solution to the problem.

However, before Otumfuo could take his seat, Nana Poku’s opponents, who had traveled all the way from Atima Agogo made a brave attempt to remove the sandals at the fore court of the Manhyia Palace to signify his destoolment.

That was met with a fierce resistance from the chief’s supporters including some machomen with both factions wielding machetes.

The chief according to eye witnesses ran into the main palace when the youth rushed on him.

In the process, the factions clashed, leaving the four with serious injuries.

Since the beginning of the year, Atwima Agogo has known no peace and things came to a head when two people were shot dead in separate incidents, both linked to the protracted chieftaincy dispute.

A section of the people who opposed to Nana Poku’s reign accused him of masterminding the killings, the last which took place on July 12, 2007.

In retaliation, the palace and another building belonging to a relative of the chief were set ablaze and the chief who escaped unhurt has since been living in self imposed exile.

Though the police are yet to arrest anybody in connection with the killings, one person is already on remand in connection with the arson that followed the murders.

Source: Daily Graphic