Unidentified mob destroyed property at Gyadam

Akyem Gyadam, March 22, GNA - An unidentified mob destroyed six houses and property estimated at about 500 million cedis at Akyem Gyadam in the Birim South District belonging to Mr Kwame Kyere, a diamond winner.

The victim told the Ghana News Agency that the incident took place in the early hours of Monday during the installation of Mr Yaw Obiri, a businessman, as the new chief of the town.

Mr Kyere and the new chief were rivals for the vacant Gyadam stool. He said on Monday morning he was informed at Akyem Oda that some unidentified people had vandalised the buildings that resulted in his family fleeing the town.

In a telephone conversation, Mr Sampson Agbeko, the Akyem Oda Divisional Crime Officer, confirmed the incident but said the police were yet to make any arrests since tension in the town was high. Meanwhile, Nana Gyansawa Pokua 11, the Queen of the town, had expressed concern about the way and manner Mr Obiri was nominated and installed as the chief of the town.

She said she being the queen had the power to nominate a candidate for kingmakers for approval before a person could be installed as a chief.

"In line with that traditional demand, I nominated Mr Kyere and later introduced him to the Akyem Achiasehene who endorsed the candidate."

She said before she could be aware, the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Council brought in a stranger who was not known to the Royal House to be installed as the chief.

Nana Pokua said she obtained a court injunction to stop the ceremony but they defied the order