Chief, others granted bail for allegedly burning Asokwa chief’s car

A Kumasi Circuit Court has granted a GH¢15,000.00 bail with a surety each to Nana Kwakye Prempeh 11, the chief of Bekwai-Besease and four others who allegedly conspired to burn a car belonging to the Odikro of Asokwa, Nana Fe Baamoah.

They were also charged for conspiracy and threatening to kill the Odikro. Nana Prempeh and his accomplices; Ben Atudidam, Lawson Owusu, Kwasi Korankye and Yaw Frimpong, pleaded not guilty to conspiracy, causing unlawful damage and threat of death.

Police Chief Inspector James Amekah told the Court presided over by Mr Emmanuel Amo-Yartey that the complainant, Nana Fe-Baamoah is the Odikro of Asokwa, and the care taker of Asokwa lands, accountable to the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei-Tutu, and that he lives at the Asokwa Stool house at Asokwa.

Nana Prempeh, the accused is also a building contractor and resident of Suame. He is the Director of Ashanti Forest Hotel, located at Asafo and also owns a washing bay.

Atudidam, the co-accused, is the manager of the hotel whilst Owusu, Korankye and Frimpong all accomplices are a mason, cleaner at the washing bay and unemployed respectively.

The Chief Inspector said Nana Prempeh owned a parcel of land at Asokwa given to him by the late Odikro, Nana Poku IV in 1990. He started a cement block factory on that land.

It was later leased to Shell Ghana Limited and Nana Prempeh was asked to vacate the place but he refused and started building a fence wall.

Odikro Fe-Baamoah then went to the site to invoke the great oath of Asantehemaa to force the accused to vacate the premises, but he defied the oath and continued the project on the said land.

The complainant summoned his rival to the Asantehene and he was found guilty with a fine of four rams. Unperturbed by this, the Bekwai-Besease chief threatened the Odikro again and asked him never to step on the said land.

He said on May 12, this year, at about 12mid-night, Nana Baamoah was awoken from his sleep by neighbours when his Mercedes Benz with the registration number AS 8990 X which wa parked in front of his house was set ablaze. His other vehicle, a Jaguar with the registration number AS 8990- 10 valued GH¢8,980.00, was also damaged.

Nana Fe-Baamoah found note saying; “Asokwa chief you are a cheat, ungrateful but let’s remind you that this is the beginning. You are playing with fire and gas. We will be back, bye. ”

Suspecting the five, he made a report to the Asokwa police leading to their arrest.

Meanwhile, the vehicles and the note have been sent for Forensic Examination.