Egyambra rioters granted bail

Sekondi, May 14, GNA - A Sekondi Magistrate Court on Thursday granted 28 people including two women and three students a total of 210 million cedis bail with seven sureties for rioting, using offensive weapons and conspiracy to commit crime. Their pleas were not taken and they would re-appear before the court on May 27. They are also to report to the regional Police Command at Sekondi every Tuesday.

Dickson Nyarko, one of the suspects was, however, remanded for pointing a fingers at the Police prosecutor in court. His action, nearly brought proceedings to a halt but Mr. Yao Seyram Tsatsu, the presiding judge, quickly ordered that he should be sent back on remand, to safeguard lives and property at Egyambra.

Sergeant Andam Okyere, the prosecutor told the court that though the suspects were on remand, they had been sending death threats to some of the complainants and just as he was speaking, Nyarko pointed his fingers towards him in a warning sign. The suspects all residents at Egyambra near Axim were said to have stormed the Agona Nkwanta Police Station in the Ahanta West District on April 21, 2004, when they heard rumours that the police had arrested their chief, Nana Efuaba Amantwi IV over a protracted chieftaincy dispute.

The group, allegedly armed with stones, sticks and knives left the Police Station amidst singing of war songs and drumming and started beating people within the Agona Nkwanta Township. The Police therefore called for reinforcement and the suspects who were in a bus were arrested and sent to the Sekondi Regional Police Command, but others managed to escape.