KIDNAPPING CASE AGAINST KROBO CHIEF DISMISSED

Nene Agbau Narh, Divisional Chief of Djebiam, Manya Krobo

A Koforidua Circuit Court had dismissed a case of kidnapping brought against a Divisional Chief of the Manya Krobo Traditional area, Nene Agbau Narh III and three others.

The case which has been running since March last year, was dismissed for the lack of evidence, according to the court.

The accused persons including Nene Agbau Narh, Divisional Chief of Djebiam who at the time was the Acting President of the Manya Krobo Traditional Council; Mr. Peter Sedjordji Narh, Head of Popotia Limestone Land Owners; Daniel Tetteh and one Nartey alias Narh, all youth of the area have since been acquitted and discharged

Background

On Thursday March 12, 2016, Nene together with the others were arraigned before the Koforidua Circuit Court B for purportedly kidnapping one Samuel Adjie Paditey, an agent of GHACEM, while the latter was on his usual reconnaissance and prospecting activities at the limestone-rich Popotia area, near Yonguase in the Lower Manya Krobo Municipality of the Eastern Region.

Prior to this, Mr. Paditey was said to have been instructed by the chiefs to cease all reconnaissance and prospecting activities in the said area since it was not covered by the agreement between the parties.

This was during a meeting held on Thursday February 5, 20115 at the Manya Krobo Customary Lands Secretariat involving the chiefs, Mr. Paditey and the relevant land owners.

According to sources, Mr. Paditey and his clients, Ghacem alledgedly disregarded the directive and have been in active operations at the site.

On Friday February 20, 2015 the Chiefs were said to have had a tipoff to the effect that Mr. Paditey had defied their directives and was illegally operating in the area.  

Nene Agbau Narh, then acting as the President of the Council, accordingly dispatched some of his emissaries to summon the former to appear before the council.

While the messengers were returning from the site with Mr. Paditey, the Oterkporlu Police had a hint of the issue and swiftly went in to take custody of Mr. Paditey. On his release, he initiated a legal action against Nene and his aides who were subsequently hurled to court on Thursday March 12, 2015.

The four however narrowly escaped remand and were admitted to a GHC 15, 000 bail with two sureties each to reappear on Tuesday March 31, 2015.

After months of trial, the case was thrown out of court last Tuesday following the filing of a motion of nole prosequy by the Attorney General’s Office.

Nene's reaction

Speaking to Nene Agbau Narh, he said “Though the case has been truncated for lack of evidence, I feel deeply maligned by the development (the suit); all the same I am happy justice has prevailed in the long run”. “The council will review the entire development and take the appropriate steps”, he added

Counsel speaks

Ebenezer Ahumah Sakey Esquire of the Krobo Chambers, counsel for the accused said “Everybody who was privy to the fact knew the case lacked merit right from scratch- this was obvious and that is why I’m not surprised at the decision of the court”.