Chief, seven others granted bail over violence

Accra, Oct.24, GNA - Nana Stephen Owusu-Nsiah, Inspector General of Police on Friday directed that the chief of Akwanserem and seven others who were arrested by the police for destroying Akotoshu Farms Company be cautioned and granted bail for further investigations..

The chief, Nana Annor Barima allegedly led the youth of the Akwanserem, near Obuasi in the Ashanti Region to take over the farms by chasing the workers out and burning a tractor belonging to the company in protest against the divestiture of the company by the government. The Police said the people seized the company, which operates an oil palm plantation.

Nana Owusu-Nsiah told the GNA on telephone that he had to rush to the regional capital, Kumasi on Friday to hold a meeting with the Police, the Regional Minister, the chief and some Assemblymen of the area to contain the situation.

The Police boss warned that lawlessness would not be tolerated and urged the people to use due process of the law to settle their differences.

Mr Ofosu Mensah Gyaebuor, Ashanti Regional Police Commander also told the GNA that the people, wearing red bands and armed with guns and machetes, stormed the farms and in the process chased out the workers and destroyed some farm equipment and seized documents of the company. He said a stray bullet hit the helmet of a policeman who was among others dispatched to restore order at the farms.

Mr Gyaebuor said the youth prevented the police from reaching the farms until a reinforcement team arrived from New Edubiase before they could control the situation.

He said that the Regional Minister, together with the Regional Security Coordinating Council would visit the area to ascertain the security situation.

He warned that the police would not spare anyone who would breach the peace.