Queenmother and 9 others remanded on suspicion of murder

The case involving the Queenmother of Akim Nkwantanan,Nana Abena Frempomah and nine others who were being held on remand

By a Koforidua Circuit court on charges of rioting with offensive weapons, which resulted in the death of Rose Oforiwa on New Year Day, took a different turn when they appeared before the court on Monday.


The police changed the charges of rioting with offensive weapons to three counts of murder, rioting with offensive weapons and abetment of crime.


As a result of the new charges, the accused persons were discharged on the old charges and therefore, the bail of two female suspects in the case Evelyn Korang, a Community Health Nurse and Adwoa Ahiadarakpa who was pregnant granted under the former charge were revoked and placed on remand with the other suspects until Wednesday, January 15.


The other suspects in the case were Atwere Bediako, Eric Obeng, Kwame Quansah, Kwame Koranteng, Samuel Owusu, Kweku Boakye, Kofi Korankye, Kojo Adwin and Yaw Kyei Ennin .


Their plea was not taken.

Changing the charges, Police Chief Inspector Theophilus Nyadu informed the court that in the course of the police investigations, the docket was forwarded to Accra and later brought back and therefore, pleaded with the court to give him some time to study the docket well before presenting the facts of the case to the court.


In granting the request of the prosecution, Justice Simon G. Suurbaareh observed that, if care was not taken, the Police could abuse the court process and warned the Police not to come to court when they are not ready with a case.


Pleading for bail on behalf of the defence, Mr. Stephen Asante-Ansong, a Koforidua based legal practitioner accused the Police of poor investigations and unduly delaying proceedings of the court.


He said as a result of the poor police investigations the wrong people had been arrested and brought before the court.


Mr. Asante-Ansong alleged that, there were witness to testify that the bullet that killed the deceased, Rose Ama Oforiwa, came from the gun of the Krontihene of Akim Nkwantanan, Kwesi Owusu and if he and one Kwesi Ayite were arrested, they could help the court to established the truth.

He argued that, on charges of rioting, it take two parties to riot but only one section of the group involved in the rioting had been arrested and therefore, called for the arrest of the other parties.


Mr. Asante-Ansong, who quoted extensively from the constitution and some legal authorities argued that, by the constitution of the country, when some one is improperly detained, the fellow need to be compensated, " but My Lord you know this had never been applied and so when one is being detained, care need to be taken."


Mr. Seth Wiafe Dankwa, the second defence counsel alleged that the murder was committed by Kwesi Owusu and not his clients and therefore, called on the Police to arrest Owusu.


He alleged that there were witnesses to the fact that ten locally manufactured pistols were distributed at the palace of the Chief of Nkwantanan, Nana Adanse Omane on the day of the incident.