Youngster fined 500,000 cedis for stealing
Mankranso (Ashanti Region) 24 May 2000
The Ahafo Ano South District Tribunal Chaired by Mr Bernard Ben-Hene, last Friday dismissed a stay of execution motion filed by members of the Mankranso Assembly of the Church of Pentecost and awarded a cost of 200,000 cedis to Opanin Kwaku Mensah.
The Tribunal in March this year, ordered the Church to pay a compensation of three million cedis to Opanin Mensah, a farmer at Mankranso for demolishing his three-room building and putting up a new building on the plot.
Opanin Mensah in his statement of claim said he acquired the plot in 1950 from the then Hiahene, Nana Kwabena Agyei, and put up a three-room structure which he to the Cocoa Co-operative Society until 1969, when co-operative out of business.
Opanin Mensah said one Elder Tekute of the Church approached him and sought permission to use the structure for worship t which he agreed. To his surprise however, the church members pulled down his structure and started building another on it.
Members of the Church in their statement of defence denied the farmer's claim and said they had legally acquired the land and said they will appeal against the judgement.
GRi../
Asamankese (Eastern Region) 24 May 2000
Seventeen-year-old Philip Agbeko, an apprentice carpenter, who broke the side glass of a parked car and stole its radio and cassette player has been fined 500,000 cedis by the Asamankese Circuit Court. Agbeko, who pleaded guilty, will serve six months' imprisonment in default. In addition, he was ordered to pay 100,000 cedis to the car owner or go to prison for three months.
The Judge, Mr S. S. Appiah described Agbeko as a hardened criminal in the making, for having the courage to break into the car at his age.
According to the prosecution, one Mr Godwin Opoku parked his car on the night of April 28 at Suhum and went to bed only to discover the next morning that the side glass had been smashed and the radio-cassette player removed.
Days later he had information that it was Agbeko, who stole the radio-cassette player. A report was made to the Police and he was arrested.
He admitted the offence and showed the Police where he had hidden it.
GRi../
Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 24 May 2000
The Kumasi Traditional Council (KTC) has declared the Sabin Akrofrom stool owners of a parcel of land in dispute between them and the Trede stool.
A Council meeting held on July 16, 1998, and presided over by Oheneba Adusei Poku, Akyempimhene, unanimously accepted the report of a committee it appointed to investigate the matter.
In its ruling following the persistence of the land dispute between Nana Kwaku Dua, Sabin Akrofromhene and Opanin Owusu Badu, Trede Abontendomhene and others, the Council said, "the area under litigation is the bonafide property of Sabin Akrofrom Stool".
Oheneba Poku said, "it is evident that Captain Fuller had long demarcated the boundary and available records indicate that the issue had been settled since 1915".
However, he said people belonging to the Trede Stool had stayed on the land for a long period and have built schools and other assets on the land in question.
The Trede elders customarily rendered an apology through the Kronti clan led by Nana Kwanwomahene for the error committed and begged for pardon.
After the settlement, Nana Kwaku Dua, Sabin Akrofromhene swore the Great Oath of Asante to the effect that "if the chief and elders of Trede do not bring any trouble on the land at stake, he will continue to live in peace with them."
Opanin Badu, Trede Abontendomhene in reply also swore the Great Oath of Asante to live in peace and harmony with the people of Sabin Akrofrom once the issue has been settled.
GRi../