A US-based citizen of Kyebi, Mr. Kofi Akresi has alleged that he was recently arrested for suing the Paramount Chief of the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Area, Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panyin I, and the Ministery of Roads and Highways over what he described as appropriating public road that was recently asphalted.
Mr. Kofi Akresi told Awake News that about a week after obtaining the injunction to restrain the contractors, on the ongoing construction work on the public road, he was arrested by Kyebi Police at a funeral on trumped-up charges of blowing up a public toilet over ten years ago.
But Mr. Akresi said the accusations leveled against him for which he was arrested was false saying the said “Colonia structure” was demolished by the then-District Cheif Executive and not him.
According to him, after his arrest, the Police took him to the area where the structure he was alleged to have demolished but the Police only found out that there is currently a church building at the spot which the structure was.
He further stated that during his seven-hour detention at the Police custody, the “Police Commander kept asking me if I was the one that filed the case against Okyehene and I also would ask him if was the reason for my arrest”.
“At a point in time what so ever question I asked, the Police Commander would tell me to go seek an explanation from the Okyehene’s Palace” – He said
“It took the intervention of my lawyer and the Member of Parliament for the Area, Hon. Samuel Atta Akyea to get me released from the Police custody” – He added.
“For a fact, I was arrested because of the case I filed against the Okyehene” – He alleged
Why Mr. Akresi sued the Paramount Chief
According to Mr. Akresi, he found it illegal for the Okyehene to erect two huge gates at both ends of the street as part of his Palace renovation project.
He also accused the Paramount Chief of erecting a huge wall separating so-called ugly houses from the view of his Palace.
Mr. Akresi told Awake News, he drew the attention of the Kyebi Traditional Council, The Municipal Assembly, and the Ministry of Roads and Highway through a former petition but all the three institutions failed to act on his petition pushing him to file the case at the Accra High Court.
He revealed that the Accra Hight Count has granted his request for an injunction restraining the contractors from going ahead with the construction works until the final determination of the matter in court but the contactors have since disobeyed the court orders alleging the construction works is still ongoing.
Awake News contacted the Okyehene’s Palace for a response to the accusation but the officer at answered the call declined to comment saying he “cannot comment on a case that is in court. You’re a journalist and you know this”
By: Efo Korsi Senyo / awakenewsroom.com