Chieftaincy row turns bloodyGUNSHOTS AT INDECE DAY PARADE …Four sustain serious injuries

FOUR PERSONS including the local NDC Youth Organizer sustained injuries when some youth group engaged in an encounter with the security personnel, during the Independence Day celebration at Juaso.

The injured persons were Mr. Addo Boateng, Kwaku Atta, Kwabena Atuahene and Kwame Agyapong. They sustained serious injuries following assault by the police and for which they were admitted at the Juaso Government Hospital.

Writhing in pain from head injury, Mr. Addo Boateng, the NDC Youth Organizer, who narrated the incident to The Chronicle said Nana Owusu Akyaw Prempeh, the gazzetted chief of Juaso and his elders decided to grace the occasion and partook in the celebrations at the park.

Nana Sarpong Sofrotwie, a self-styled chief of Juaso, also reportedly wanted to parade himself as the chief at same the occasion, for which reason Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr. Kofi Opoku Manu ordered that both chiefs should not attend the function until he settled the impasse.

He said even when both chiefs were stopped from going to the park, The Chronicle gathered that, the Twafohene of Amoana-Praso, Nana Antwi Boasiako accompanied by the Gyasehene of Juaso, Nana Yaw Oppong joined a brass band to grace the occasion.

Mr. Addo stated that on reaching the parade grounds, the Police and Military personnel who provided security at the place prevented the two Chiefs and their followers from going to the durbar grounds.

The Youth, who did not understand why the security personnel were preventing their entry to the durbar grounds, forced their way through, compelling the District Police Commander, Supt. Oppong to seize and break the Chief's umbrella into pieces.

The Police officer's conduct generated tension between the youth and the security personnel, resulting in the firing of warning shots. The students had to run away from the park to save their lives.

It was reported that the Police used the butt of their guns to hit the angry youth as well as those who wore NDC T-Shirts.

Mr. Wiafe Akenteng , member of the youth wing of the NDC expressed worry about the incident because a bad precedent is being set in Juaso, since the police and security personnel descend heavily on Juaso during Independence Day celebration every other year, even at a time there was no problem. He declared that about 90% of the people of Juaso support Nana Owusu Akyaw Prempeh and know him to be the Chief of Juaso.

Mr. Ocran, the second in command of the Juaso police confirmed the incident and said only one person sustained a minor injury, who has since been treated and discharged from the Juaso hospital. He declined further comments and directed that this reporter gets in touch with Supt. Oppong for his comments. The police commander, who was said to have gone to the Obogu area of the district, could not be reached on his Tigo cell phone, last Saturday.

Meanwhile, Nana Owusu Akyaw Prempeh Juasohene in an interview appealed to President J. E. A. Mills to appoint a committee to investigate the Juaso Stool Affairs to restore lasting peace and stability at Juaso. He also appealed to the Asantehene Otumfo Osei Tutu II to intervene in the Juaso Chieftaincy and find a lasting solution to the problem. According to him, there is no way Juaso would see development in the face of these threats.