Court acquits and discharges Queenmother, 11 others

Sekondi, Jan 10, GNA - A Sekondi District Magistrate's Court on Monday acquitted and discharged Nana Adu Panyin II, Queenmother of Sefwi Wiawso Traditional Area, for offensive conduct, conducive to breaches of the peace.

The court also acquitted and discharged nine sub-chiefs of the traditional area, Nana Boakye, former Antobiahene and John Chikah, a businessman, for failing to notify Police of special event. The sub-chiefs are Nana Yaw Ntaadu II, Krontihene, Nana Kwame Nkrumah II, Adontenhene, Nana Adu Tawiah, Gyasehene, Nana Kojo Owusu, Twuafohene, Nana Kwame Kesse, Dwurasamhene, Nana Tano Kumah, Akyeamehene, Nana Yaw Attah, Benchimanhene, Nana Kwesi Gyebi, Suihene and Nana Kwaku Duku, Kokokromhene.

All accused persons pleaded not guilty to their charges. The case of the prosecution was that on July 22, last year, Nana Panyin, the Queenmother, caused a sheep to be slaughtered on the main street in front of the Palace of the Omanhene of the Sefwi Wiawso Traditonal Area, Nana Nkua Okumdom II, and announced the destoolment of the Omanhene with intent to provoke a breach of the peace. He said on September 8, last year, the nine sub-chiefs, Nana Boakye, former Antobiahene and John Chikah, a businessman, failed to notify the Police of the installation of Chikah.

Mr Tsatu Azumah, the Presiding Magistrate, said evidence showed that the Queenmother was not the one that slaughtered the sheep and poured libation to announce the destoolment of the Omanhene. He said the place where the libation was poured doe not qualify as public place under the Public Order Act.

Mr Azumah said the installation of Chikah also does not qualify as a special event under the Public Order Act, because it took place in a private residence of the Queenmother.

He said, if Chikah had been out-doored as the Omanhene that would have been an offence under the Public Order Act, but after the installation, Chikah was moved from the private residence of the Queenmother to another building across the street.