Otumfo Sasraku addressing the press conference
Tension is gradually mounting at Twifo Hemang in the Hemang-Lower-Denkyira (HLD) District of the Central Region over alleged politicization and deliberate delay of a case involving the New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate for the area, Bright Wireko-Brobby.
Mr Wireko-Brobby and three others namely Kweku Nsowah, Felix Kwame Quainoo and Ernest Odei Larbi have been accused of allegedly stealing 1,201 bags of cocoa fertilizers at the Twifo Praso office of Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) estimated at GH¢201,287.60 while 14 others have also charged for dishonestly receiving the said fertilizers.
The paramount chief of Twifo Hemang Traditional Area, Otumfuo Amoah Sasraku III, at a press conference in the area over the weekend, blamed the Attorney-General’s Department for creating tension in his traditional area.
Otumfo Sasraku therefore called on President John Mahama to, as a matter of urgency, intervene in the matter in order not to incur the wrath of the people in the area, adding that they would not remain indifferent for people to use politics to cause mayhem in the area.
The paramount chief noted that there are several problems already in the constituency, adding that successful elections cannot be guaranteed this year if injustice in the country continues to exist.
“When justice is stifled and an unfair playing ground is created in any competition, the end result is violence so the AG must ensure that justice is served properly devoid of malice to avert a potential conflict in the area,” he added
“The deliberate delay from A-G has gradually become a source of worry for the people in the area since some executives of the ruling government have said on various platforms that they have collaborated with the AG to delay the case till Electoral Commission (EC) closes nomination to give unjustified advantage to the NDC MP for the area, Foster Andoh,” he said.
Otumfo Sasraku indicated that elections are won on merit and that was why President Mahama was travelling across the country to account to the people for his stewardship.
He therefore urged the MP for the area to tell the people about his achievement and avoid the use of dubious means to threaten the peace of the area.
The paramount chief stressed the need for AG to be neutral and expedite action to bring finality to the case that is threatening peace in his traditional area.
It would be recalled that DAILY GUIDE in its Thursday edition published a story with the headline “AG Clears NPP Candidate” in which the Attorney General had refused to present to the court a fiat on the matter against Mr Wireko-Brobby and 17 others.
Mr. Wireko Brobbey was arraigned before the Cape Coast Circuit Court in June 2015 and since then, the case has been adjourned several times.
According to Chief State Attorney, John Ofori, the Central Regional CID had received fresh evidence and they had asked the AG to hold on with the fiat, as they prepare to present the new evidence for them to study and advise the court.
Mr Ofori therefore pleaded with the court to adjourn the case to August 3, 2016 to enable them make the necessary additions.
However, a copy of the fiat intercepted by DAILY GUIDE indicates that there is nothing in the docket to show that Mr. Wireko Brobby stole or conspired with any of the suspects to steal fertilizer.
The fiat has advised the police to drop the charges because there was no evidence to sustain conviction of the NPP candidate and his 17 co-accused persons.
From Sarah Afful, Twifo Hemang