A group of residents from Akyem Ayirebi in the Eastern Region has petitioned the Minister for the Interior, Hon. Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, calling for the transfer of a criminal case involving alleged assault, attempted murder, and the exhumation of a corpse from the Kyebi Police Command to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Headquarters.
The petition, signed by Abusuapanyin Kwaku Darkwa and seven other complainants, accuses embattled chief of Ayirebi Nana Asare Duodu II, also known as Kwadwo Gyimah, and several others of orchestrating a violent attack during the burial and funeral rites of the late Kwame Dansi on May 9, 2026.
According to the petition, the incident is linked to a long-standing chieftaincy dispute over the Ayirebi Stool, which is currently before the courts.
The petitioners contend that despite court orders and directives from the District Security Council (DISEC) restraining all claimants from presenting themselves as chief, Kwadwo Gyimah has continued to do so.
The complainants state that prior to the funeral, Kwadwo Gyimah had unsuccessfully attempted through the courts to stop the burial.
They claim two separate legal actions he filed against the family were dismissed by the High Court.
The petition alleges that on the day of the burial, a group of men led by Kwadwo Gyimah mounted a barricade near the Ayirebi Police Station to prevent the funeral procession from accessing the cemetery.
When the bereaved family reportedly used an alternative route, the group allegedly stormed the family residence wielding machetes and other weapons, inflicting injuries on several mourners.
The attackers are further accused of proceeding to the cemetery after the burial, where they allegedly exhumed the deceased’s body, damaged the coffin, and destroyed clothing on the corpse.
The petitioners expressed concern over what they describe as the failure of the police to arrest any of the suspects despite reports being made to the Ayirebi Police Station and medical reports confirming injuries sustained by victims.
They further accused the Akyemansah District Police Commander, DSP Kyei Sarpong, of actions that allegedly emboldened Kwadwo Gyimah. Among the allegations are claims that police officers provided armed escort for Gyimah during public appearances and allowed him to undertake activities associated with the office of chief despite ongoing court restrictions.
The petitioners also alleged that attempts were made by the Eastern Regional Police Command to resolve the matter through mediation rather than pursuing criminal investigations, an approach they rejected due to the seriousness of the alleged offences.
The principal suspects named in the petition include Kwadwo Gyimah, Kwame Asareboroh, Kaka, De Hoyer, Kofi Asare, and Oboom, along with about 15 other unidentified persons reportedly recruited from neighbouring communities.
According to the petitioners, the police’s failure to act has heightened tensions in the community, undermined public confidence in law enforcement, and increased the risk of violence between rival factions.
The petition is therefore seeking the immediate transfer of the case docket to CID Headquarters, the arrest and prosecution of all suspects, the transfer and suspension of DSP Kyei Sarpong from matters relating to the Ayirebi chieftaincy dispute, and strict enforcement of all court orders and DISEC directives concerning the dispute.
The Interior Ministry and the Ghana Police Service are yet to respond to the allegations contained in the petition.
Source: Starrfm.com
