Fourteen persons, including private security guards, a businessman and a student have been arraigned before the Circuit Court 7 in Accra, over alleged involvement in vigilante activities and weapons-related offences at Adamorobe, in the Akuapem South Municipality of the Eastern Region.
The accused persons appeared before the court, presided over by Her Honour Benedicta Antwi on Wednesday, and pleaded not guilty to all the charges levelled against them.
The court granted bail to the first and second accused persons, Osiahene Joe Quaye and Douglas Amoako Dankwah, while the remaining accused persons, from A3 to A12 were remanded into police custody to reappear on May 20, 2026.
Two other accused persons, identified as Richard Mikki Osei Berko and Mustapha Hamidi are currently at large.
The accused persons are facing six counts, including prohibition of vigilante groups and activities, organised criminal group, carrying offensive weapons, unlawful assembly, discharging guns in town and offensive conduct conducive to breach of the peace.
According to the prosecution, led by Detective Chief Inspector Sarfo Asiedu Akwasi, the Police are complainants in the matter.
The prosecution told the court that the case stemmed from a chieftaincy dispute in Adamorobe, involving the planned enstoolment of two rival chiefs from the same royal family as successor to the Adamorobe stool.
Police investigations revealed that on April 24, 2026 the Eastern Regional Police Command received intelligence about plans by the rival factions to install separate chiefs in the same community.
Following security assessments, the Police concluded that the planned ceremonies could result in a serious breach of the peace.
Consequently, both factions were invited to a meeting where a restraining order from the High Court was served on them, prohibiting any installation activities for 10 days.
The prosecution said despite the restraining order, tensions persisted in the community.
The court heard that on May 3, 2026 the 13th accused person, who is currently at large, allegedly organised some of the accused persons, including private security guards and armed them with pump-action guns and military-style camouflage allegedly supplied by the 14th accused person.
The group allegedly converged at a location within the township and fired gunshots in an attempt to prevent the enstoolment of one of the rival chiefs.
Prosecution further stated that on May 4, 2026, the first accused person, with the support of the second accused person, allegedly organised traditional rites and ceremonies in defiance of the court restraining order.
During the ceremony, the first accused person was reportedly carried shoulder-high, adorned with herbs and publicly paraded as a chief, attracting large crowds and heightening tensions in the community.
The prosecution said the development created fear and panic among residents, compelling a combined team of Police and military personnel to intervene to restore calm.
The security operation led to the arrest of the accused persons and the retrieval of five pump-action guns loaded with 23 live AA/BB cartridges, one stun gun, a walkie-talkie, handcuffs and fragment vests.
Police said investigations are ongoing while efforts are being made to arrest the two accused persons currently at large.
The post Adamorobe chieftaincy row: Richard Mikki Osei Berko on the run –court told appeared first on The Ghanaian Chronicle.
Read Full Story
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Instagram
Google+
YouTube
LinkedIn
RSS