Busia tomb looters remanded again

The Wenchi District Magistrate Court on Monday remanded two men, who allegedly attempted to break into the tomb of Professor Kofi Abrefa Busia, Ghana’s Prime Minister in the Second Republic at Wenchi in the Brong Ahafo Region, into prison custody again.

The duo, Emmanuel Osei Sarpong, the self-styled pastor and his accomplice, Solomon Adu, both 34, would re-appear on Monday, November 4, 2013.

They have been charged with causing damage and unlawful entry into private premises after they were caught naked on the tomb of the celebrated African scholar in the early hours of Monday, October 21, 2013 at the serene Busia quarters at Wenchi.

According to the Wenchi Police, Osei Sarpong is a member of the Busia Family and mentally unstable.

He usually acts as a man of God whenever his condition stabilizes.

Police investigations established that the duo went to the tomb yard to offer prayers.

According to reports, Solomon Adu usually sought spiritual assistance at the place.

However, since they had no access to the keys, they forcibly entered the various rooms and hurt themselves in the process.

The Wenchi Divisional Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Kwadwo Gyan Kyere, told DAILY GUIDE that the police would employ the services of quantity surveyors and civil engineers to assess the damage caused to the facilities at the Busia quarters so that the suspects could be surcharged.

He told the paper that the police did not retrieve implements from the suspects at the time of their arrest.

ACP Gyan Kyere said the police are currently providing security at the Busia quarters, stressing that a caretaker operates at the place.

The former Prime Minister, described as one of the greatest African intellectuals, was overthrown by a military junta in 1972.

He died while in exile in 1978.