DCE Beaten Unconscious

Sprayers undertaking the mass spraying of cocoa farms in the Juabeso Bia District of the Western Region are reported to have attacked and severely injured the District Chief Executive, Mr. Benjamin Armah after accusing him of delay in the payment of their allowances. Confirming the report the Regional Minister, Mr. Joseph Boahen Aidoo told The Chronicle yesterday that Mr. Armah has been admitted to the Bibiani hospital as a result of the severe beatings he received at the hands of his assailants. The angry sprayers allegedly hit the head of Mr. Armah several times with some sharp instruments until he fell unconscious. The Chronicle learnt that about two months ago Mr. Armah had an operation at the hospital so he was not at post. On his return to the office he discovered that the allowances for the sprayers were in arrears for two weeks so he decided to work out a strategy to get them paid because of the way they were agitating for their money. The Chronicle was told that the bank at Juabeso was short of money so Mr. Armah summoned a meeting with his administrators on how to raise money from other sources including the Bank of Ghana at Boako. But before these plans could materialize the sprayers attacked the DCE at his residence. The regional minister said intelligence report he had received from the Juabeso indicated that the intention of the sprayers was to kill the DCE. Aidoo said a full-scale investigation would be conducted into the incident to establish the real motive of the attackers. Meanwhile the police have arrested some of the sprayers. The regional police commander, Mr. George Asiamah said the suspects were due to appear before court yesterday.