72 Arrested For Rioting

Seventy-two people have been arrested by the Eastern Regional Police Command for alleged provocation of riot and unlawful assembly at Senchi.

Also arrested, is the Chief of Senchi Amanfrom, Odikro Minta, 46.

The suspects, aged between 18 and 34 years, hail from such Accra suburbs, as Korle-Gonno, Accra New-Town, Dansoman and Mam-probi, were alleged to have been hired by the Odikro.

Speaking to The Ghanaian Times, the Eastern Regional Public Affairs Officer, ASP Yaw Nketia, said on Wednesday January 28, the police had a tip-off that the Odikro had mobilised some youngmen outside Senchi to protect him and cause riot in the town.

This followed an earlier report by the Odikro that some people had assaulted him, a case which was being investigated.

He said the Odikro could not wait for the police to investigate the report and allegedly hired the 72 people to protect him, instead of relying on the police to do so.

At dawn, Thursday, January 28, the police, acting on intelligence, with the help of the Formed Police Unit in Accra, mounted a swoop at Senchi and arrested the Odikro and the suspects.

The Queenmother of Senchi who is the Odikro’s mother was also arrested for questioning. The suspects have been charged for provocation of riot and unlawful assembly and would be put before court soon.

ASP Nketiah said Senchi is now calm and appealed to the youth not to interfere in chieftaincy issues, but allow the kingmakers to play their roles, as tradition demands.

Source: Ghanaian Times