Mankrong-Junction Assemblyman appeals for calm

Agona Swedru, Jan 25, GNA - Alhaji Jabiru Ibrahim, Assemblyman for Mankrong-Junction Oketsiew Electoral Area has appealed to irate inhabitants of four communities who have threatened to burn down the houses of two Pastors who have been remanded in prison custody for the alleged murder of a trader from Niger.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at Agona Swedru on Monday, Alhaji Jabiru Ibrahim, who is also the Chief Imam of Mankrong-Junction, said information reaching him indicated that some people had planned to burn down the houses of the two suspects arrested on suspicion. He said it was unfortunate that some people at Mankrong-Junction, Oketsiew, Osardu and Kwaasam had threatened to take the law into their own hands instead of assisting the Police to investigate and unravel the mystery surrounding the death of the 14 year-old Niger national. It would be recalled that on January 9, 2005, Gibrime Fuseini the Niger national was found dead under a coconut tree in a plantation close to the Ayensu River at Agona Oketsiew with a knife still in his chest. The Agona Swedru Police arrested the two Pastors, James Amenyor Mawuli, Founder and Leader and his deputy Philip Gye-Nyame alias Kwame Okyere on suspicion at Kwaasam, near Mankrong-Junction. They were remanded in prison custody by a Swedru Magistrate Court to reappear on February 1, 2005.

Alhaji Ibrahim asked the inhabitants to exercise restraint and to cooperate with the Police by offering information, which could lead to the arrest of the culprits.

He appealed to Chiefs and opinion leaders in the communities to restrain the youth from attacking the wives and children of the suspects and to allow law to take its course.