20 armed thugs wielding cutlasses and pump-action guns hired by the regent of Akyem Begoro Nana Bosompem Ayirepe II to foment trouble in Dedeso and its environs have been left off the hook while four Krobo settlers in Dedeso and Nyinase have rather been arrested and put before the court.
Four (4) residents of Dedeso and Nyinase in the Fanteakwa North District in the Eastern Region were arrested in rambol style on Monday, August 9, 2021, while in court premises and put behind bars until Wednesday, August 10, 2021, when they were put before Koforidua Circuit Court B.
The accused persons are Michael Teye Sackitey (a Teacher), Randolph Tetteh (Assembly Member), Samuel Batsa, and Simon Tetteh.
The rest of the accused at large are; Richard Nacca, Tetteh Piti Ossom, Alex Tettehbio, Francis Mansour, Benjamin, and Emmanuel Ahogbe. The others are Freddie, Course Trouble, Kofi Asare, Ossom Akwetey, and Bullet.
The accused persons are all inhabitants of Dedeso and surrounding villages.
They have been charged for conspiracy to commit a crime, causing harm, and causing damage.
Dedeso-Wireko is a VRA resettlement community on 8,700.24KM land acquired by the government in 1969 through Executive Instrument (EI.54).
The construction of the Akosombo Hydroelectric Dam in 1961 inevitably created the Volta Lake which displaced 730 villages with a total population of 80,000 people.
These displaced people were relocated and resettled by the state in fifty-two (52) townships spread over four (4) regions of the country; namely Volta, Oti, Eastern, Bono East, Northern, and Savannah Regions and covering seventeen (20) districts of the country which Dedeso -Wirako is one of the communities.
However, the regent of Akyem Begoro Traditional Council Nana Bosompem Ayirepe II says it was not properly acquired by the state therefore the Traditional Council will take back the land.
This has resulted in a protracted land dispute resulting in many clashes.
The Prosecuting Officer Chief Inspector Owusu Ababio narrated to the Koforidua Circuit court ‘B’ that, on June 26, 2021, at about 9:00am, the regent of Begoro traditional area mobilized a group of men numbering about 20 from Begoro, Apaa, and Nsawam communities armed them with his pump-action gun and cutlasses, hired a Nissan Mini truck with registration number GW 1551-21 and two motorbike and delegated one Nana Barffuor Bimpong to take them onto the disputed land at Perteifoo junction.
On reaching Abuorso police station, Nana Baffour Binpong Kwakye requested for police escort which Constable Kinni Daniel was detailed to escort the group.
The Chief asked thugs to take the lead as he went to Dedeso to the Police station for more men. The thugs upon reaching Ashaiman Kope a village near Dedeso met three Krobo residents on a motorbike which they identified the rider as one of the people claiming ownership of the disputed land during their previous visit hence jumped off the truck and started beating them.
The Krobo inhabitants on hearing the incident mobilized and armed themselves with guns and cutlasses and rushed to the scene to fight the thugs.
They outnumbered the thugs, brutalized, and inflicted multiple cutlass wounds on two of the thugs namely Godfred Blewusi, 29, and Stephe Tetteh, 28. The rioting residents drove two Hyundai mini Trucks to block the road and subsequently set fire into it.
They also allegedly ransacked a room belonging to a farmworker for the regent of Begoro and took away about Ghc15,000
The arrival of Police personnel from Begoro helped to restore calm. The Police rushed the two victims to Begoro government Hospital where they were admitted, treated, and discharged.
The accused persons were arrested on August 9, 2021, at the premises of Begoro District Court. Randolph Tetteh was pointed out during a parade for his involvement but later the regent of Begoro also pointed out Samuel Batsa as one of the suspects.
They pleaded not guilty when put before Koforidua Circuit Court “B”.
The Presiding Judge Her Honour Mercy Adei Kotei admitted each to Ghc70,000 bails with two surety.
Source: Mybrytfmonline.com/Obed Ansah
