The Sunyani office of the Attorney General's (A-G) Department has recommended that 11 people should be tried at the high court for their role in the death of Anthony Yeboah-Boateng, former Administrator of the Goaso Government Hospital at Atronie, near Sunyani.

The 11 are among 30 suspects standing trial at the Sunyani Magistrate's Court "B" for their role in the death of Yeboah-Boateng on Easter Sunday this year.
The late Yeboah-Boateng was also the Presiding Member of the Asunafo North District Assembly before his death.

After his murder, the 30 suspects were arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit murder, contrary to Section 23(1) and 46 of the Criminal Offences Act 1960 (Act 29).

They are also facing charges of murder, contrary to Section 46 and causing unlawful damage, contrary to Section 172(i) of the same Act.

A source close to the courts in Sunyani named the 11 suspects to be tried at the high court as Douglas Afriyie, alias Dougie, Stephen Donkor, alias Kofi Ankamah, Kwasi, alias Nana Kusi, Kwaku Agyeman Badu, alias Wakuu, Adama Hamidu, James Dankwah, Kwame Yeboah, Addae, alias Akolo, Kwadwo Awuah, alias Koo Wuaa or "I see", Kwame Anokye, Emmanuel Kwaku Lartey, alias Adjetey and Kwame Krah, alias Koo Krah.

The source said the A-G's office also directed that the police should make efforts to apprehend 14 others who were now at large for prosecution.

They are Yaw Kwarteng, alias Akiel, Kwabena Mensah, alias Alasisi, Julian Coffie, alias AkrO Danel, Kwame Gyau, Kwasi Boampong, alias Kaisser Jnr, Yaw Akoto and Yaw Asamoah, alias Dagaa or Gongong.

Some others are Kwame Dada, Yaw Michael, alias Mike, Osei Kwabena, Kwadwo Nsafoa, alias Polar, Kwadwo Brenya, Kwaku Fitter and Kwadwo Boodi.

However, the sources indicated that the law office further advised that the charges preferred against six of the suspects, including the Chief and the Queen of Atronie, Nana Ainponsem Darko, and Nana Wirekoaa Afriyie, respectively and Agbonovi Ahuja, Charles Kwaku Yeboah, Emmanuel Kwabena Ainpong and Kwadwo Boadi should be dropped.

According to the source, the A-G's office explained that "the six denied any knowledge of the charges preferred against them and the available evidence was inadequate to sustain the prosecution of the charges preferred against them. In the circumstances, I advise that the charges preferred against them should be dropped".

The source further indicated that the police were to prepare a summary of evidence and a bill of indictment against the suspects after which they would be discharged from the Magistrate's Court presided over by Mr Albert Zooga and commit them to the high court for trial.

Apart from Nana Darko, Nana Afriyie, Ampong and Yeboah, who have already been granted bail, all others are still on remand and are to appear again on January 14, 2008.

According to the source, the police were dissatisfied with the advice to discharge the chief and the queen of Atronie, and the prosecution would meet with officials of the AG's office to commit the two for trial on a charge of abetment, since they were alleged to be linked to the murder.

On April 8, 2007, Yeboah-Boateng in the company of his wife and two other women travelled from Goaso to Sunyani to convey the corpse of a relative from the regional hospital to the Goaso Hospital mortuary.

When they got to Atronie with the corpse, the accused persons, together with others at large, blocked the main road, forcing Yeboah-Boateng to stop.

The accused persons, together with the others, rushed on Yeboah-Boateng and accused him of being a ritual murderer, because he was carrying a corpse in his car.

Before the deceased could offer any explanation, the accused and others pulled him out of the vehicle and clubbed him to death, attempting to set his body and car ablaze.

The accused persons then vandalised his car and the corpse, and bolted from the town.



Source: Daily Graphic