Reports reaching DAILY GUIDE indicate that the chief of Akyem-Adwafo in the Eastern Region, Nana Ahenkah III has been arrested by the Akyemansa Police for allegedly ordering ‘Macho men’ to cut down over 1,020 cocoa trees on seven acres of land belonging to a 75-year-old blind woman, Kate Ama Dapaah Adutwuwaah.
Nana Ahenkah III has currently been granted police enquiry bail and asked to report on daily basis until 14th October when he would be arraigned before the Koforidua High Court.
Sources confirmed that the predecessor of Nana Ahenkah III, the late Nana Ahenkah II engaged in litigation with Mama Ama Dapaah Adutwuwaa over a parcel of land.
The matter went to the Akyemansa District court in 2006 for settlement.
The paper gathered that the court ruled in favor of the late chief and ordered his family to leave the seven acres of land for the blind woman.
However, when Nana Ahenkah III was installed as the new chief, he took the matter to the court, but it dismissed his application.
Mama Ama Dapaah, in an interview with DAILY GUIDE, said Nana Ahenkah III got angry after the court ruling and ordered ‘Macho men to destroy her cocoa trees without any reason.
The distressed blind woman reported the matter to the Police.
The chief, upon hearing that the Police were looking for him, travelled to an unknown place.
However, the Police later arrested him on Wednesday morning at his hideout.
Sources at the Akyemansa Police Command, confirmed to the paper that Nana Ahenkah III admitted during interrogation that he ordered the ‘Macho men’ to destroy the cocoa trees, adding that the matter would be sent to court after police investigation.
When the youth heard about the news, they moved to the farm, collected the trees and used them to block the roads to protest against the action of the chief.
Mama Ama Dappah, who has called for justice, appealed to the President, Inspector General of Police, Chief Justice and Eastern Regional Minister to come to her rescue.
The chief, Nana Ahenkah III when contacted by the paper, failed to comment but directed the paper to contact lawyer Augustus Ennin Attafuah.
The lawyer told the paper the court ruled in favor of Nana Ahenkah III and therefore he had no knowledge of the destruction of any cocoa trees.
Lawyer Attafauh further instructed the paper to contact him in his office for further explanation.
