A 45-year-old Acting Gyaasehene of the Nkusukum Traditional Area in the Mfantseman Municipality, Eric Ato Appiah Mends, has been remanded in police custody by the Cape Coast District Court One.
The Gyaasehene, known by the stool name Nana Beeyin II, was involved in a tragic incident on Friday, October 25, during the Odambia Festival, where he shot and killed 52-year-old Kwesi Melchoir following an altercation.
Citi News reports that a chieftaincy dispute may have sparked the confrontation between the two men. During the proceedings, the court, presided over by Her Worship Anita Sheila Crabb, formally charged the suspect with murder.
Mends has been remanded in custody and is scheduled to reappear in court on November 11, 2024.
Abusuapanyin Solomon Ato Budu-Hagan, the family head of the Nkusukum Amansea Twidan royal house, expressed shock at the incident while recounting the events that led to the altercation.
“What happened in Mankessim took us by surprise. The Nkusukum Traditional Council is engaged in litigation over chieftaincy issues. On day one of the festival, one faction wanted to slaughter a cow and the other faction didn’t want that to happen.
“We cautioned them severally but they never listened, leading to the incident. We want to tell the court to speed up the process for justice to prevail.”
