Sixteen (16) people have been arrested in connection with the death of Samuel Yankey alias Nyameke and the severe injuries sustained by six others at Akyem Swedru in the Eastern region.
This followed a chieftaincy dispute between factions of the Omanhene of the Akyem Bosome Traditional Area and the queen mother.
The Oda Police Divisional Commander, Chief Superintendent James Sarfo-Preprah, told Okay FM yesterday that the police have so far arrested sixteen suspects. The arrest, he said, happened on Sunday, January 18, 2015 and it would aid the police in its investigations into the matter.
According to Chief Superintendent Sarfo-Preprah, there is calm now in Akyem Swedru, but warned all troublemakers to desist from fomenting trouble since the police would deal ruthlessly with them.
He disclosed that the deceased, Samuel Yankey, alias Nyameke, a palm wine tapper, was the branch Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Akyem-Swedru-Asramase area.
The injured, who were on admission at the Akyem Swedru Government Hospital, according to the police commander, were yet to be identified.
He pointed out that the stone-throwing mob attacked policemen on duty and damaged two police patrol vehicles.
He went on to add that the mob further set part of the Omanhene�s palace ablaze, completely destroying documents and equipment, including files and computers at the office of the registrar of the Akyem Swedru Traditional Council.
Chief Superintendent Sarfo-Peprah went on to state that at dawn on Sunday, January 18, 2015 the police had information that a mob, led by the Asafoatse of the Akyem Swedru Traditional Area, Nana Kofi Sintim, had besieged the Omanhene�s palace at Akyem Swedru.
He said the Omanhene, Okotwasuo Kantamanto Oworae Agyekum, and his elders were in the palace pouring libation for the Akwasidae celebration when the mob attacked them with stones.
He stated that the mob overpowered the 10 policemen who were at the palace to maintain law and order and set part of the palace ablaze.
Later, the police called for reinforcement from Oda, Akwatia, Asamankese and the Jungle Warfare School at Akyem Achiase to contain the situation.
�The mob was not deterred by the heavy police/military presence and attacked the security personnel with stones,� Chief Supt. Sarfo-Peprah stated.
He said the mob smashed the windscreens of two police patrol vehicles.
In an interview with the media, the Medical Superintendent of the hospital, Dr. Kwabena Wiredu, said Yankey died as a result of head injuries he sustained from the assault.
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