The police yesterday arrested the queenmother of Akyem-Akooko, Nana Afia Korantemaa II, and five others to assist in investigations into last Tuesday’s violent clash between the youth and a traditional priest in the community in the East Akyem Municipality.
The others are the newly elected assemblyman for the area, Yaw Bekoe; the Dwantoahene, Nana Kwasi Botwe and the Abusuapanyin, Nana Yaw Okyere. The names of the two other persons were given only as Dede and Debook.
This brings to 21, the number of people who have been arrested.
The police last Tuesday arrested 15 other suspects in connection with the violence.
Three persons were last Tuesday shot dead following a violent clash between members of the Akyem-Akooko community and supporters of the traditional priest, Nana Saaka.
Nine other people, including three policemen, were injured from the gunshots fired during the clash.
Police presence
Meanwhile, the police are patrolling the town to ensure law and order.
When this reporter took a stroll through the town, it seemed the residents had deserted the town for fear of losing their lives.
A number of people had sought refuge in the classrooms of nearby communities on Tuesday evening and were still there as of the time Mr Antwi-Boasiako Sekyere, the Eastern Regional Minister and the Regional Police Command led by Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) James Abass Abaah, went round the town on Wednesday.
Barimah Agyedua Pantanpina II, the Chief of Akooko, briefed the regional minister on the developments in the town.
Regional minister
Mr Antwi-Boasiako Sekyere, for his part, assured the chief of his support to ensure that the issue was resolved and the culprits punished.
He entreated the chief to impress upon his people to endeavour not to take the law into their hands but to report any breach of order to the police.
Atta Akyea
Speaking to the Daily Graphic, Mr Samuel Atta Akyea, the Member of Parliament for Abuakwa South, under whose jurisdiction Akooko falls, called for an independent investigative committee to handle the matter rather than the Suhum Municipal Police Command.
He alleged that the police command was in bed with Nana Saaka and acting against the people living in the community.
He made a strong case for the Suhum police to be disqualified from investigating the matter and suggested that the regional minister should stop the Suhum police from carrying out the investigation.
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