Wassa Akropong chief allegedly exhumes corpse from cemetery

The Ahene family of Wassa Akropong in the Amenfi East District of the Western Region has accused the Omanhene of Wassa Amenfi Traditional Area, Tetrete Okuamoah Sakyem II of exhuming the body of their late son and brother who was buried at the family museum cemetery at Kyekyewere near Wassa Akropong.

Addressing the media at the Press Center in Accra, the Spokesperson for the Ahene family, Peter Nana Amankwah alleged they were at the funeral grounds of the late John Kwame Boakye popularly known as Kwame Anane when information came that, the Omanhene of Wassa Amenfi Traditional Area, has organized his family members and a group of young men believed to be ‘Wee Boys’ to the family museum cemetery and exhumed the body.

Nana Amankwah added that the Omanhene who was not satisfied by the action again ordered the demolition of the House of one Maame Manu who is also a member of the Ahene family.

He said, it was not enough, the Omanhene also instigated the District Police Commander to instruct some officers and men of the Ghana Police Service to enter the compound of our family house including himself and his family members by given warning shots indiscriminately.

The said incident allegedly happened on December 6, 2016.

“Apart from the constant threat and harassment on our family members, Tetrete Okuamoah Sakyem II who is the Omanhene deployed thugs in town chasing after my life. On the 22nd day of May, 2017, they surrounded the District Magistrate Court, Wassa Akropong when I was attending court and threatened to capture me to the palace,” Nana Amankwah said.

He added, “Their reason was that I’m being wanted at the palace of the chief for disgracing the chief in the media. In spite of these acts of lawlessness on the part of the Omanhene and his cohorts, no single arrest has been made. As a result of this behavior of the Omanhene, I requested for police protection to enable me to attend court anytime I am scheduled to attend court at Wassa Akropong.”

The frequent intimidation and harassment by Tetrete Okuamoah Sakyem II, according to the Spokesperson is making the Ahene family live in fear.

He said, several petitions were sent to the police but the perpetrators continue to unleash harm on the family with impunity.

“On the 21st day of December 2018, our last petition letter was sent to the High Command of the Ghana Police Service through the Western Regional Command but nothing seems to be done irrespective of the fact that we the Ahene family provided names of the young men who did the exhumation,” he revealed.

Nana Amankwah finally alleged that, “the Omanhene continue to unleash mayhem on members of the Ahene family including ordering the demolition of a family members house at Wassa Akropong, personally assaulting me Peter Nana Amankwah and same time banning the family from performing funerals of members who passed on until the family produces Peter Nana Amankwah to appear before he the Omanhene to answer charges of why he reportedly sent the matter of his misconduct to the media”.

Peter Nana Amankwah said the conduct of the Omanhene is causing unrest particularly among the Ahene family and therefore appealing to the High Authorities especially the Minister of Interior, the Minister of Chieftaincy Affairs, the Western Regional Minister and the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to help bring a lasting solution to this impasse.