The Akyem Oda District Magistrate, Mr Kwesi Abaidoo Appiatse, has observed that the country could progress at an accelerated pace if the peace and stability the country was enjoying was sustained. He has, therefore, urged Ghanaians to endeavour to comport themselves at all times.
He warned that he would deal drastically with anyone or group of people brought before him, whose actions had breached the peace in the country no matter their position in society.
Mr Abaidoo Appiatse gave the warning when he posted a bond on the paramount queenmother of the Akyem Bosome Traditional Area, Nana Kwatemaa Minkyim II, and six other persons to be of good behaviour for a period of six months. Nana Minkyim and the six persons were cited for provoking a section of the public against the Omanhene of the Akyem Bosome Traditional Area, Okotwasuo Kantamanso Owarae Agyekum.
The others are Odifour Atta Debrah, Odehye Kwame Pinkrah, Odehye Kwadwo Ntow, Odehye Debrah Bosompem, Odehye Adwoa Nkrumah and Nana Abrokwah Gyampim, the Oman Kyeame (State linguist).
Mr Appiatse said the actions of the seven accused persons could have sparked off violence in Akyem Swedru if the Omanhene and his supporters had not exercised restraint.
In his ruling, he said: “In accordance with section 22 of Act 30, the seven accused persons are hereby ordered to sign a bond to keep the peace for six months, failure of which they are to face the full rigours of the law.”
He added, “For the reasons stated in the affidavit by the applicant, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Richard Gyebi, the accused persons are bonded in their own responses.”
The magistrate, however, cautioned the first four plaintiffs, Okotwasuo Kantamanto Oworae Agyekum, the Omanhene, Odehye Kwadwo Tawiah, Nana Obeng Asiedu and Nana Appianing Kwaframoah to not conduct themselves in a manner that would provoke in order not to create grounds for breach of peace in the traditional area.
The Akyem Swedru District Police Commander, DSP Richard Gyebi, who read the affidavit at the crowded court, said for some time now there had been bad blood between the Omanhene and the paramount queenmother of Akyem Bosome Traditional Area. He said the situation degenerated into bitter quarrels.
He said the Omanhene had claimed that the Royal Clan of Akyem Swedru had nominated his uncle, Odehye Kwadwo Tawiah, to replace Odifour Atta Debrah as Abusuapanin but several efforts made to invite the queen mother to watch and direct the new arrangement failed due to the strained relations between them.
DSP Gyebi said on November 22, 2014, Odehye Kwadwo Tawiah was installed the Abusuapanin of the Agona Royal Clan by the Omanhene, a move which was opposed by the queenmother and her supporters including the six persons indicted.
He said considering the tension that had mounted at Akyem Swedru between the supporters of the queenmother and the Omanhene and fearing that the two feuding parties might clash if proper security measures were not taken, he put the leaders of the two factions before court.
DSP Gyebi said before the 11 persons were put before court, police personnel had since November 27, 2014, been stationed at the chief’s palace and the residence of the queenmother. However, he said, the arrangement was no longer unsustainable.
But, contrary to expectation of all the 11 respondents being bonded by the court, the presiding magistrate posted a bond on the queenmother and seven of her supporters only.
This was after the counsel for the Omanhene’s group, Mr Augustine Anim Attafuah, had stated that his clients never took revenge for the abuses, name calling and inflammatory statements made against them.
After studying all sides of the arguments, Mr Appiatse ordered that the queenmother and her supporters be bonded to be of good behaviour for six months.
