Court jails farmer for verbal threat

The Ada West District Court in Sege has sentenced Atteh Asamanguah, a farmer from Addokope, to three months in prison for verbally threatening another farmer, Clement Ackwerh, in Hwakpo.

The sentence was handed over by Her Worship Victoria Akua Ghanasah, who presided over the case.

Asamanguah was found guilty under Section 74 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29), which addresses threats of harm.

The prosecution presented CCTV footage as key evidence, capturing Asamanguah making the threat. In the footage, he is heard saying, "Clement Ackwerh, I will burn you like charcoal, and I will spoil your life."

In her judgment, Magistrate Ghanasah stated, "It is clear and genuine that Atteh Asamanguah had the motivation to carry out his threat against Clement Ackwerh. Since then, Ackwerh has experienced significant fear and anxiety, affecting his quality of life. This verbal threat is also a criminal act."

The court noted that the CCTV footage also recorded Ackwerh shouting for help, further supporting the claim that he felt an imminent fear of attack.

Magistrate Ghanasah emphasized that the sentence was intended to serve as a deterrent, noting that while Asamanguah was a first-time offender, his actions warranted serious consequences.

Alongside Asamanguah, ten other individuals were also charged in connection with the case. However, the court acquitted and discharged them on the charge of conspiracy to commit a crime, citing insufficient evidence.

Case background:

The incident occurred on October 4, 2022, around 7 a.m., when Clement Gator Ackwerh, a farmer in Hwakpo, received information that some individuals were preparing to plant cassava sticks on a plot of land his family had plowed.

Ackwerh, accompanied by his three brothers, went to the farm and found Gladys Korkor Adi (A1), Victor Tonorh Lawerh (A2), and Atteh Asamanguah (A3) cutting cassava sticks.

Despite warnings from Ackwerh and his brothers, the three continued their activities and called in reinforcements.

Soon after, Tetteh Akpenkroh (A4), Amos Martey (A5), Sammy Apenku (A6), Ebenezer Asamanguah (A7), Buernotey Lawerh (A8), Promise Aklama Adibuer (A9), Tawiah Patrick Agbashie (A10), and Bernard Buernotey Asamanguah (A11) arrived at the scene, all wielding cutlasses.

The group proceeded to Ackwerh’s residence, chanting his name and issuing threats to kill him and burn him "like charcoal."

Fearful for his life, Ackwerh hid and later reported the incident to the Sege Police Station.

The police arrested the accused individuals at Hwakpo Junction later that morning. Following investigations, they were charged with conspiracy to commit a crime and threat of harm under the Criminal Offences Act.

While Asamanguah has been sentenced, the acquittal of the other ten accused underscores the complexities of the case.

The court’s decision aims to reinforce the seriousness of verbal threats and the importance of maintaining peace in the community.