Court fines Akropong Kingmakers GH₵48,000 for flouting social gathering directive
The four persons who were arrested during the installation of the new Okuapehene in Akropong last Friday have been fined by the Akropong Circuit Court, presided over by Mrs Arrit Nsemboh.
The four, sentenced on their pleas of ‘guilty’ to the offence of flouting the directives on restrictions on all social and public gatherings, have been fined a total of GH¢48,576.
They will each serve a jail term of four years if they default in paying the fines.
The convicted persons — Odehye Kofi Asiedu Adu-Mfum, 57; Nana Semanshia Ohene Asah Krofah II, 43; Ohenenana Bennet Smith Opoku, 55, and Nana Odi Asempa Krobea Asante, 76 — were charged for failing to comply with the restrictions imposed on all public gatherings, contrary to Paragraph 1(A)VII of E.I. 64 and Section 6 of the Imposition of Restriction Act 1012/2020.
Offence
Detective Inspector Lukeman Sulemana, the prosecutor, told the court that the accused had been deeply involved in the installation of the new Okuapehene in Akropong Akuapem last Friday.
He said the four played significant roles in ensuring that the physical distancing directives put in place, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, were not adhered to.
Plead for mitigation
Before passing judgement, counsel for the accused, Mr Joseph Adakpaksa, pleaded for mitigation, considering that only 11 kingmakers had performed the customary rites to install the new chief and so they had been overwhelmed by the presence of onlookers.
He further pleaded that the ages of the accused persons should be taken into consideration.
Passing judgment, the court applied the minimum sentence, fining each of the accused persons 1012 penalty units, which translates into GH¢12,144, or in default four years in jail.
Last Friday in Akropong Akuapem in the Eastern Region, the people ignored the Presidential directives on physical distancing during the installation of Odehye Kwadwo Kesse as the new Okuapehene.
The installation was done just a day after the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs had ruled in the litigation between the two factions in the Akropong chieftaincy dispute, led by the Okuapehemaa, Nana Nketiaa Obuo II, and the Family Head, Abrewatia Madam Lily Nana Agyeman, over the selection of a new chief to succeed the late Oseadeeyo Addo Dankwa III.
The three-member Judicial Committee of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs said the selectee for the Okuapehene Stool by Nana Nketiaa Obuo was against the laid down customs and traditions of the people of Akuapem.
It further held that per the traditions and customs of Akuapem, it was the Abrewatia of the Sakyiabea Royal Family that had the mandate to select a nominee for the position of Okuapehene.
Appeal to National House of Chiefs
Meanwhile, the Daily Graphic has gathered that the faction led by the Okuapehemaa has filed an appeal with the National House of Chiefs against the ruling by the Judicial Committee of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs.
In a notice of appeal to the National House of Chiefs sighted by the Daily Graphic, four aggrieved persons argued that the judgment by the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs amounted to a misdirection of law.
They contended that the judgment was made against them, despite “the weight of the evidence”.
“The committee’s finding that the nomination of a Royal to be enstooled as Okuapehene is the sole prerogative of the Abrewatia of the ruling house whose turn it is to select a candidate was erroneous.
“The judgment is unsatisfactory and failed to resolve the issues raised, both on the pleadings and the evidence, as well as on the memorandum of issues,” they said.
They further noted in the appeal that additional grounds of appeal would be filed “upon receipt of the record of appeal”.
For their reliefs, they “want the judgment set aside” and a “declaration that Odehye Kwasi Akuffo is the proper person to be installed and an order that he be installed as the next Okuapehene”.