Asantehene orders arrest of palace guard

A guard on duty at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi, who violently attacked a policeman, also attached to the palace, causing severe injuries on his mouth and making him lose his tooth, was arrested on the orders of the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, to enable justice take its rightful course.

The suspect, Baffour Adu Acheampong, was arrested on January 14, 2008, a day after he committed the alleged crime and was charged with assault and causing harm.

He has been remanded in police custody for two weeks to facilitate investigations into the case.

He pleaded not guilty to the charges when he appeared before a Kumasi Circuit Court presided over by Justice Ernest Yao Obimpeh on January 17, 2008.

The suspect was alleged to have ventured into a restricted area at the Manhyia Royal Palace, quaffing bottles of Guinness after the just ended Akwasidae festival which was attended by many dignitaries, including President John Agyekum Kufuor and the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Patrick Kwarteng Acheampong.

When the policeman asked him to move from the area, Acheampong allegedly became offended and violently attacked the policeman.

The victim, who was said to have become unconscious from the violent attack, was rushed to the Manyhia Hospital where he was revived, and later referred to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital where he was treated and discharged.

Giving the facts of the case, Chief Inspector Owusu Manu told the Court that the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II celebrated an Akwasidae festival on Sunday, January 13, 2008, which was attended by many dignitaries including President John Agyekum Kufuor and the IGP, Mr Patrick K. Acheampong.

He said after the festival, the Asantehene provided drinks and other items to refresh those who attended the festival, and in the course of the refreshment, the policeman attached to the palace saw the suspect in the company of others, quaffing alcoholic beverages at the restricted area of the Manhyia Royal Palace.

Mr Manu said as part of his responsibility to ensure security at the palace, the policeman approached the suspect and others and politely asked them to leave the place they had gathered because it was a restricted area.

According to the prosecutor, the suspect became offended, and without any provocation, attacked the policeman, throwing a hefty punch at his mouth that sent the policeman sprawling and made his mouth to bleed profusely.

He said the bloW also made the policeman lose his tooth and become unconscious.

The prosecutor said when Otumfuo Osei Tutu got wind of the incident, he ordered the arrest and prosecution of the suspect.

Chief Inspector Manu said the suspect was subsequently arrested the following day and after initial investigations, he was charged with the offence.