Police arrests alleged ring leader

The Half Assini Police has arrested J. K. Menlah the alleged mastermind of the Ellenda riots, said to have gone into hiding after the incident in August this year.

The Jomoro District Police Commander, Superintendent John Furguson Dzineku, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at Half Assini that Menlah was arrested upon a tip-off from his hide out in Sekondi, on Wednesday, October 14.

According to the District Police Commander, the suspect was among 10 others in the town standing trial on six counts of abetment of crime, assaulting a police officer, causing unlawful damage, conspiracy to commit crime, rioting and causing nuisance and obstruction of road.

He said Menlah, the youth leader of Ellenda, ordered Asafo drums to be beaten on August 28, and also organised some youth in the town to riot against the burial of their former chief, Nana Kyeku Anyimiah the IV, in the town.

Supt Dzineku said the rioters blocked the access road to the town with woods and logs and in the process injured a Police officer on Patrol duties in the town.

He said the Police arrested his accomplices but Menlah managed to escape and went into hiding.

According to Superintendent Dzineku, his accomplices were arraigned at the Half-Assini Magistrate’s court for the first time on September 1, and were remanded into prison custody for two weeks.

The court then issued a Bench Warrant for his arrest.

He said that the rioters on their second appearance before the Court on September 29, were granted bail and the Bench Warrant was renewed, resulting in his arrest.

He said he would be arraigned at the court soon.