(Ghanaian Times) -- The Ashanti New Town Community Tribunal in Kumasi, on Thursday committed Nana Saaman Nantwi II, Asantehene's Saamanhene and two others to stand trial at a Kumasi High Court for attempted murder.
The two others are Kwaku Addae and Agyekum, both relations of the Saamanhene. They were granted self-congnisance bail to report before the Kumasi High Court next Tuesday.
Giving the facts of the case, Mr Agyeman Duodu, a Senior State Attorney, said that on November 5, 1995, Nana Saaman Nantwi went to Anwiem near Sewua, on the Kumasi-Lake Bosomtwe road, to join his uncle, Nana Gyebi Appau II, chief of Anwiem, to observe the 'Akwasidae' rites.
Nana Appau and the chief of Sewua, Nana Adusei-Opoku, had been engaged in a chieftaincy dispute. On his way to Anwiem, the Saamanhene passed through Sewua to perform some customary rites. After the celebration of the 'Akwasidae' at Amwiem, he was seen leading a procession from the town with a gun.
On reaching a roundabout near Nana Adusei-Opoku's Palace, the Saamanhene's procession started throwing stones into the palace. The family members of the chief Sewua who were also observing the 'Akwasidea' rites, responded by throwing stones at the attackers.
In the ensuing confrontation, the Saamanhene shot and wounded Kwaku Antwi, a citizen of Sewua, who was standing in front of the palace. The second accused, Addai also shot and wounded another person, Kwaku Manu, while the third accused, Agyekum, armed with cutlass, attacked and shot another person, Wofa Adu.
The victims were treated and discharged at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH). The accused was charged with the offence after thorough police investigations. Mr Dennis Adjei, counsel for the accused, argued that although there was a confrontation between factions in the town on the day in question, his clients had nothing to do with the firing of guns and cutlass attacks.
