Youth molest two soldiers at Antwirifo

Dormaa Ahenkro (B/A) Sept. 27, GNA - A circuit court at Dormaa Ahenkro has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Stephen Kwabena Kabo and Job Adu, both from Antwirifo near Dormaa-Ahenkro for allegedly molesting two soldiers serving at the Kofi-Badukrom border post. The soldiers had been invited by the chief and elders of the town to assist them to remove an unauthorised barrier erected by the youth in the town.

Five other accomplices brought before the court on similar charges were granted bail after serving two weeks on remand. They were George Adu Adjei, Kwame Bofah, Gordon Afriyie, Gordon Kofi Anane and Aime Addai.

Police Chief Inspector M. K. Yeboah told the court presided over by Mr Justice V. C. Senu that the complainants in the case were two soldiers from the 3BN in Sunyani who were performing assigned duties at Kofi-Badukrom border.

He said on September 7 this year, the Chief and elders of Antwirifo invited the two soldiers to assist them to remove an unauthorised barrier constructed across the main road by the youth.

The prosecution said the youth erected the barrier amidst chanting of war songs and demanding from the chief and his elders what warrant two timber trucks possessed to load lumber in the area. He said the youth also alleged that the chief and his elders had collected money from the truck drivers for their personal use. Chief Inspector Yeboah said when all appeals from the traditional leaders failed to impact on the youth the elders invited the soldiers to come and help calm down tension in the town. He said the youth upon seeing the soldiers got incensed and alarmed and pounced on them seizing their weapons and ten rounds of live ammunition and bolted.

Chief Inspector Yeboah said on the third day the Assembly-member for Antwirifo managed to retrieve the weapon and the live ammunition for the soldiers after persistent consultations with the leadership of the aggrieved youth. The prosecution added that the seven accused persons were identified as ring leaders of the mob action but Kabo and Adu could not be traced.