The Paramount Chief of Mankessim, Osagyefo Amanfo Adu IV and the Queen mother of Mankessim, Nana Amba Amissah III, have been remanded into police custody by the Saltpond District Court.
The two are to reappear before the court on January 8, 2020.
The Chief and Queen mother have been charged with conspiracy to commit crime, murder and causing unlawful harm by state prosecutors in connection with the shooting incident at Mankessim during the installation of a new Queen mother earlier this month.
The Mankessim chieftaincy tussle got to a head after a faction enstooled Nana Araba Otuah II as Queen mother to replace Nana Amba Amissah III after a High Court in Cape Coast ruled to nullify the latter’s name and that of the Omanhene of Mankessim Traditional Area from the register of the National House of Chiefs.
While the newly enstooled Queen mother was being transported in a palanquin and paraded in a procession along the Mankessim Anafo road, some gunmen perched on a storey building near the Anafo junction opened fire on those taking part in the procession.
Two persons including the BNI officer for the Mfantsiman Constituency were killed. Eight others, including a police officer, sustained various degrees of injuries.
The Central Regional police arrested the Chief and Queen mother whom they suspected to be part of the grand plot to scuttle the enstoolment process.
Praying the court to admit them to bail, the lawyer for the accused, Francis Boah Essilfie, argued that the two were prominent members of society and would not pose any danger to society, neither will they interfere in the case.
He pleaded for clemency for the two and asked the court to look at the season and time and admit them to bail pending trial.
The presiding judge, Patience Ablorh indicated that she has taken into consideration the time and season but cannot grant their request.
According to her, the District Court has no jurisdiction to grant the accused bail in the pending case unless the High court.
She averred, “their status in society does not matter in the current scheme of things. Equality before the law is what the rule of law is about.”
The two were thus remanded into police custody to reappear on January 8. This brings to 13 the number total number of persons who have been remanded into police custody following the shooting incident.
Latest Stories
-
Ebo Whyte offers fully-funded trip as he unveils new play ‘Dubai or No Sex’
8 mins -
Ancient culture of Anlo Kingdom: Exploring “Torkor Atorlia,” the fifth landing stage’s old ways of punishment
23 mins -
Leaders from Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Botswana, Cameroon and Sierra Leone to lead discussions at Africa Finance Corporation’s (AFC) 4th Country & Stakeholder Symposium
53 mins -
Network International Delivers Strong 2023 Revenue growth at 15% y/y and free cashflow growth of 16% y/y
54 mins -
President Akufo-Addo extends Easter Greetings to Ghanaians, urges safe drive
1 hour -
Government pushes for use of more local materials in housing, other infrastructure projects
2 hours -
Dr Bawumia extends Easter greetings to Christians
2 hours -
CAF Confederation Cup: ‘Ghanaians should expect victory against Stade Malien’ – Dreams FC forward Ishmael Dede
2 hours -
CAF Confederation Cup: ‘We want to go there and win’ – Karim Zito on Stade Malian clash
3 hours -
Togbe Adzie Lãkle Howusu XII endorses youth leadership as New Force Movement gains momentum
3 hours -
Public Utility Workers Union appeals to PURC to address power crisis
4 hours -
Anbariya loses another appeal in Kumasi as Appeal Court ratifies High Court ruling against the Islamic Institute
4 hours -
Highway construction health hazard: Ofankor-Pokuase-Nsawam residents appeal for dust relief
4 hours -
SuperJazzClub releases its first single of the year ‘Off’
4 hours -
Methodist Church to lobby Akufo-Addo for expedited assent to anti-LGBTQI+ Bill
4 hours