The chief and people of Takorawse, a small town near Akwatia in the Eastern region, are not happy about the way and manner in which agents of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) caused mayhem in the town on Tuesday, January 4, 2010.
Barima Owusu Nketiah II, Chief of the town, narrated his ordeal to the Daily Guide newspaper when the paper visited the area for information about developments that led to him being attacked on the day the area’s District Assembly elections was held.
At the time Daily Guide got to the chief’s palace, he and his elders were fuming with rage, daring those behind the dastardly acts to come out and face them if they were men. The chief later went to change his attire and donned a black smock, signifying his anger, and poured libation, asking the god’s of the land to deal with individuals and groups of persons who were making frantic efforts to tarnish his image.
Though the chief was subtle in his narration in order not to apportion blame to any individual or group, his subjects attributed the acts that were committed on the election day to alleged supporters of the NDC, and vowed to do whatever it took to protect the chief.
When tempers calmed down, Barima Owusu Nketiah II told Daily Guide that he had just returned from Akim-Swedru, where he visited his colleague chief, when news reached him that there was some sort of misunderstanding over the counting of votes in the district assembly elections and that some youth were running riot in the town.
Nana said he went to the scene, where he tried to broker peace among the feuding factions since their disagreement and the crowd that had besieged the centre was affecting the counting of the ballot papers.
He advised the official of the Electoral Commission (EC), together with the polling agents of the various contestants and the police on duty to go and count the ballot papers at the police station, which was approximately five to ten meters away from the polling station.
Just as he said this and without the least provocation whatsoever, Barima Owusu Nketiah II indicated that one of the angry thugs, who was identified as Kwame Mintah, a known supporter of the NDC and one of the contestants, Issah Amadu, with strong links in NDC, hit him on the chest, which nearly sent him to the ground. He added that he was however left with a bruised finger.
The attack on the chief caused some of his aides to engage in some heated verbal exchanges with the thugs, which almost resulted in a brawl. Barima Owusu Nketiah however noted that he managed to restrain his boys and left the scene for the palace. He added that he later travelled outside Takorawse, and it was during his travel that he heard on radio that he was wanted by the police for supposedly attempting to steal a ballot box.
“How can I attempt to steal a ballot box,” he asked angrily.
Upon hearing this strange news, the chief said he went to see the District Chief Executive (DCE) the next morning, who summoned a meeting with the Akwatia district police commander, ASP Odame and the EC official, where he rubbished the allegation since it was baseless.
The chief said he returned to Takorawse only for him to be told that a team of policemen had raided the palace the previous night and ordered his pregnant wife to open the various rooms there for inspection.
Apparently, they were looking for the chief to arrest him but when they combed the whole house, they took away seven bottles of locally brewed gin (Akpeteshie). Barima Owusu Nketiah II has since reported himself to the police at Akwatia to assist in investigations.
At the time Daily Guide reached him Wednesday morning, he was with the police heading to the regional police command in Koforidua. Though he did not give details of what they were going to do there, the paper’s sources said he had been invited by the regional police commander for some talks.
The police are however tight-lipped over the issue.