Nat’l Tymes News Desk
TWO FAMILY heads from Asemko in the Ahanta Traditional Area have petitioned President John Dramani Mahama and key national institutions over violent attacks that left parts of the community destroyed and a resident dead.
The petition, signed by Ebusuapanyin Peter Essien of the Ntwea Royal Family and Stool Head Philip Paintsil, accuses one Seth Nkrumah and his armed followers of storming Asemko, burning homes, destroying property, and causing the death of a resident, John Abban.
According to the family heads, about 80% of the community — including homes and fishing canoes — was destroyed during the attack. Several residents were also injured in the violence.
They said the attacks could have been prevented if the police and the Western Regional Security Council had acted on earlier warnings. The petition claims that security agencies ignored repeated alerts about threats posed by Seth Nkrumah and his alleged gang.
The incident is believed to be linked to a chieftaincy dispute. The attackers are said to support a man calling himself Nana Agya Butsia X — a title the petitioners say is not recognized by the Ahanta Traditional Council.
The petition also alleges police bias, claiming that instead of arresting the real attackers, police officers are targeting members of the rightful Agyebu Yanke Tsia Royal Ntwea family. Ebusuapanyin Peter Essien, now acting as a whistleblower, says the police are shielding the guilty while wrongfully detaining innocent relatives.
Ebusuapanyin Peter Essien described the police actions as a “clear miscarriage of justice,” accusing them of trying to cover up their failure to prevent the violence, even after several warnings.
In his petition to President Mahama and Chief of Staff Julius Debrah, Mr. Essien outlined what he called “criminal atrocities” carried out while the police stood by. He said no arrests have been made against those who actually led the attack, leaving Asemko in ruins, with many residents displaced and their livelihoods destroyed.
The petitioners also accused the Ahanta West Municipal Chief Executive, Hon. Ebenezer Aidoo, of playing a role in the crisis. They claimed his silence and inaction gave confidence to the attackers, especially Seth Nkrumah and his group.
They called the MCE’s conduct a serious failure of leadership that has damaged peace and trust in the municipality.
Copies of the petition were sent to several key institutions, including the President, Attorney General, Inspector-General of Police, Chief Justice, Defence Minister, Director-General of the National Intelligence Bureau, and the Minister for Local Government and Chieftaincy.
Others who received the petition include the Western Regional Minister, the Ahanta West MCE, the Regional House of Chiefs, and the Ghana Police Council.
Attached to the petition is a search report from the Ahanta Traditional Council, confirming that there is no record of any chief by the name Nana Agya Butsia X — the title Seth Nkrumah is allegedly using to claim authority.
The family heads are calling for an urgent and independent investigation into the actions of the police, the MCE, and those involved in the attacks.
They warned that “justice delayed is justice denied,” and appealed to national leaders to step in quickly and restore peace to Asemko.
Source: Nationaltymes.com
