The Assembly Member for Akyem Awenade Koomson Appiah Korang and four others have been arrested by Akyem Kwabeng District Police command in the Eastern region for their involvement in chieftaincy violence.
The Assembly Member allegedly led a mob to mount barricade amid firing of warning shots in a violent attack against Chief of Akyem Awenade, Barima Akafo Darko II and members of the Asene royal family who were in jubilant procession towards the community after judgement by Akyem Abuakwa Judicial Committee upholding the legitimacy of Barima Akafo Darko II, a former Military Officers known in Private life as WOII Alexander Darko as Chief of Akyem Awenade.
The Agona family in Akyem Awenade enstooled a parallel Chief after Asene family had installed Barima Akafo Darko II claiming they were rightful occupants of the stool.
The situation has since escalated tension between members of the Asene Royal Family and Agona family.
An application was filed at the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs and the High Court but the applicants were referred to Judicial Committee of the Akyem Abuakwa traditional council for determination on the matter.
Delivering the judgement, the Judicial Committee established and declared that the Asene Royal family is the rightful occupant of the Akyem Awenade stool upholding the ex- military officer and former member of late Jerry John Rawlings security team as legitimate chief.
The judgement, however, was rejected by the Agona Royal family who had threatened mayhem in a press conference days before the Judgement.
Led by gun wielding Assembly member for the area, they mounted road block towards Akyem Awenade to block entry of the Asene Royal family.
This led to near fatal clashes as warning shots fired.
The timely intervention of reinforcement of armed police personnel brought the situation under control after firing warning shots to disperse the crowd and arrested some suspects.
Barima Akafo Darko II in an interview with the media called for unity to help facilitate development in the community but warned trouble makers to desist from any attempt to foment trouble
he Chieftaincy dispute has affected development of the community stating that royalties from mining and other revenues of the community have been dissipated.
Head of Asona family Abusuapayin Yaw Ofori said ,the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Council took the right decision bringing finality to the chieftaincy dispute.
He said elders of the community will not sit aloof for any individual or group to distabilise the peace of the town.
Source :Ghana/starrfm.com.gh/Kojo Ansah
