Chief Of Puplampu Family Jailed For Beating Town Crier

A District Magistrate Court at Sege in the Greater Accra Region, presided over by Her Worship Victoria Akua Ghansah Esq., has sentenced the chief of the Puplampu family, Nene Hakpo Adibuertey Puplampu IV, and four others, to three months imprisonment for assaulting individuals assigned to beat the “gongon” for a communal labor announcement at Hwakpo, in Ada West district.

The convicted individuals – Nene Hakpo (A1), Stephen Sodzi (A4), Datty Agovor (A7), Alex Puplampu (A8) and Emmanuel Sabbah (A9) – were found guilty of abetment of crime, conspiracy to commit crime and assault.

They received a three-month custodial sentence on each count, to run concurrently, with no option of a fine.

A sixth accused, Mary Addi (A3), who threw urine, but claimed it was water, on the complainants, was sentenced to pay a fine of 150 penalty units. In default, she will serve a three-month prison term. The court considered her age and her remorseful confession in determining her sentence.

Background 

The incident, which occurred on July 5, 2022 stemmed from an ongoing chieftaincy dispute at Hwakpo between the Puplampu and Ackwerh families.

According to court proceedings, the complainants, under the instruction of their chief, Nene Agbeshie Dzikunu Ackwerh III, were announcing a communal labour exercise when they were attacked.

As they moved through the town beating the ‘gongon’, Nene Hakpo Adibuertey Puplampu IV ordered his followers to stop them.

The convicts then assaulted the complainants, slapping them and striking them with sticks. In the process, the complainants sustained injuries and their cloth was torn. The bell was eventually seized and taken to Nene Hakpo’s palace.

The victims reported the assault to the Sege Police and medical reports confirmed their injuries. An investigation led to the arrest and subsequent prosecution of the accused.

Court’s Verdict and Sentencing

In delivering the judgment, Her Worship Ghansah noted that some of the convicts were first-time offenders, but expressed concern over their lack of remorse. She emphasised that their belief that they could act unlawfully due to the chieftaincy dispute was unacceptable.

“The court is saddened that the accused persons did not show remorse and seem to believe they can act unlawfully because of the dispute in the community,” she stated.

Three other accused persons – Evans Osabutey (A2), Esther Puplampu (A5) and Beauty Puplampu (A6) – were acquitted and discharged due to lack of evidence linking them directly to the assault.

 

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