The 34 suspects arrested following a violent clash at Ahwerease during the Odwira Festival have been arraigned before the Mampong Magistrate Court, the Eastern Regional Police have confirmed.
Superintendent Ebenezer Tetteh, the Eastern Regional Police Public Relations Officer, in an interview on Citi Prime News on Thursday, October 23, noted that the suspects face charges of rioting with offensive weapons and causing harm.
The incident occurred during a ritual meant to herald the Odwira Festival at Ahwerease in the Akuapem South Municipality. A dispute arose over who had the rightful authority to perform the ritual lifting the ban on noise-making, leading to a violent confrontation.
Superintendent Tetteh explained that the misunderstanding resulted in gunfire that injured four people. One of the victims, 45-year-old Isaac Nana Kwasi, was rushed to KOM Hospital at Aburi but was pronounced dead on arrival.
“All the 34 who were arrested following the disturbances at Ahwerease that led to the death of a 45-year-old man one Isaac Nana Kwasi have all been arraigned before the Mampong Magistrate Court this morning and the charges that were proffered against them are rioting with offensive weapon and causing harm.”
“What happened was that there was a ritual that was to be performed heralding the Odwira festival at Ahwerease. Therewas a misunderstanding as to who was the rightful person to perform that particular ritual, that is the lifting on the ban on noise making. So that led to the misunderstanding that resulted in the shooting that got the four people- one of whom died unfortunately on arrival when he was rushed to the KOM Hospital at Aburi.”
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