Akropong kingmakers who flouted ban on public gatherings will be dealt with – Police

Kingmakers who were arrested for enstooling a Paramount Chief, Oseedeayo Kwasi Akuffo II at Akropong, leading to the violation of the ban on public gathering in the wake of the COVID-19 will be dealt with in accordance with law, the Eastern Regional Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ebenezer Tetteh has assured.

DSP Tetteh told Alfred Ocansey on the 3FM’s Sunrise show on Monday, May 4 that their action was in clear violation of the ban placed on all public gatherings.

The ceremony which was held on Friday, May 1 was overwhelmed by the crowd that thronged the forecourt of the Okuapehene Chief’s Palace.

But DSP Tetteh explained that the event was a procession which attracted hundreds of onlookers leading to the violation of the ban.

“What you saw was procession, not a durbar, there was a parading of somebody on the street and it drew a spontaneous reaction from the people which was against the law.

He said: “In the Eastern Region the places where it is now epic centres are the Somanya and Akropong areas because of the numbers that we have so we cannot let our guards down and allow people to do anything in the name of tradition or anything.

“So that is why we took the people and are we are going to punish them according to the law to serve as a deterrent.”

Similarly, the Police also arrested some fourteen persons in Somanya in the Eastern Region for failing to comply with the directive on ban on social gathering.

According to the police, they defied the directive and organised a puberty rite ceremony, also known as Dipo, in the area.

The suspects are; Samuel Lawer Opata, 85, Rebecca Tetteh, 70, Korkor Esther, 45, Vivian Amish, 45, Grace Tetteh, 40, Bernice Tetteh, 38 and Opata Mercy, 35.

The rest are Victoria Tetteh, 13, Comfort Ayiki, 14, Enerstina Owusu, 17, Aboagye Precious, 15, Florence Ellie, 16, Nartey Eunice, 40, and Lovelace Emmanuel Odonkor, 70.

DSP Tetteh assured the general public that all the suspects will be made to face the law accordingly.

“The one in Somanya also had to do with tradition but we are not in normal times,” he told show host Alfred Ocansey.