Five injured in renewed chieftaincy clashes at Bomaa
Five persons were severely injured in a clash between supporters of the chief of Bomaa, Barima Kwafo Akoto I, and some youth of the town, in a renewed chieftaincy dispute in the town in the Tano North District of the Brong Ahafo Region last Tuesday.
The victims were described by the police as ‘machomen’ who were allegedly hired by the chief to protect him as he performed some rituals inside his palace.
They, however, had the beating of their lives and would have been lynched but for the timely intervention of the police.
The machomen, who are currently receiving treatment under police guard at the Regional Hospital in Sunyani, are Asare Guard, 31; Iddrisu Abass, 31; Edward Ako, 26; Akwasi Twum, 24, and Sadiq Mohammed, 29.
Police
The Brong Ahafo Regional Police Public Relations Officer, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Christopher Tawiah, told the Daily Graphic that about two months ago, the youth, supported by some sub-chiefs in the area, accused the chief of not initiating any development for the town.
The disgruntled youth subsequently locked Barima Akoto out of the palace and asked him not to return to it.
According to Mr Tawiah, the Tano North District Security Committee (DISEC) later took custody of the keys to the palace.
Barima Akoto, however, succeeded in convincing the DISEC to hand the keys over to him, since the action was sacrilegious to the stool.
The officer said Barima Akoto then hired the services of machomen from Bechem and Bomaa to assist him to gain entry to the palace.
ASP Tawiah said when the machomen started firing guns alleged to have been provided them by the chief, the irate youth of the town responded by confronting them. In the ensuing melee, the machomen were severely beaten, resulting in the victims sustaining head injuries.
The timely intervention of the police saved the situation.
The victims were, however, arrested whilst Barima Akoto was invited by the police for questioning.
Situation
Even though calm has returned to the area, there is heavy police presence to forestall further disturbances.
