THE Chief of Akyem-Adwafo, in the Birim Central Municipal in the Eastern Region, Nana Ahenkah III has been brought before the Koforidua High Court by the Akyemansa Police for allegedly ordering ‘machomen’ to cut down over 1,020 cocoa trees on seven acres of land belonging to a 75-year-old blind woman, Kate Ama Dapaah Adutwumwaah.
The Assistant State Attorney, Mrs Emile presenting the case to the court said, the predecessor of Nana Ahenkah III, the late Nana Ahenkah II engaged in a litigation with Mama Ama Dapaah Adutwuwaah over a parcel of land.
According to her, the matter went to the Akyemansa District Court in 2006 for settlement and the court ruled in favor of the blind woman and ordered the late chief and his family to leave the seven-acre land for the woman. However, when Nana Ahenkah III was installed he took the matter to court again but his application was dismissed.
The State Attorney said Nana Ahenkah III got angry after the court ruling and ordered ‘machomen to destroy all the cocoa trees on the land. The blind woman who apparently became distressed reported the matter to the police.
The chief, upon hearing that the police were looking for him left the town but was later arrested in his hideout and dragged to court.
Mama Ama Dapaah, in an interview said when the youth heard the news they moved to the farm, collected the cut down trees and used them to block the roads as a protest against the chief’s action.
Mama Ama Dappah, who has called for justice, appealed to the President, Inspector General of Police, Chief Justice and the Eastern Regional Minister to come to her rescue.
The chief, Nana Ahenkah III when contacted by the paper, failed to comment but directed the paper to his lawyer Augustus Ennin Attafuah.
The lawyer told the paper that the court ruled in favor of Nana Ahenkah but he had no knowledge of the destruction of any cocoa trees.
The case has been adjourned to next month for hearing.
<<Print>>