Rival Chief of Aflao dragged to  Court for attempts to  the breach peace


The alleged rival chief of Aflao, Torgbui Afla Awunor Detu IX otherwise called Raphael Kojovi Fiho is arraigned before a High Court in Ho charged with three counts of conduct conducive for the preach of the peace and failing to notify police of special event contrary to the Public Order Act of 1994. 

The court presided over by  Justice Patrick Bayeeh remanded him into custody to re-appear on Tuesday. Prosecuting, Assistant State Attorney, Moses Asampa told the court that the complainant is the Paramount Chief of Aflao Traditional area, Togbe Ameny Fitih. 

In September last year, he reported to the Aflao police that the family of the accused, Raphael Kojovi Fiho were preparing to perform the funeral of their grandfather, Togbui Awunyo Detsu the seventh who died in 1945 as the Paramount Chief of Aflao. 

The complainant alleged that as part of the funeral rites they were also preparing to install the accused person as the rival paramount chief of Aflao Traditional area. According to the complainant the action of the accused person and the family was threatening the peace and security in the area. 

Police investigation confirmed the allegation as the police found armed youth believed to be supporters of Togbui Amenya Fitih patrolling the streets of Aflao amidst the singing of war songs and firing of musketry. 

Further investigations revealed that the installation had already taken place at an unknown place. And that plans are far advance to outdoor the accused Raphael Kojovi Fiho as a rival Chief of Aflao. 

In all these activities the accused or the family never informed the police in contradiction of the Public Order Act. The Police therefore applied to the Aflao Circuit Court for an injunction to retrain them from the outdooring, which was granted. 

Despite the injunction, the accused and the family last Wednesday were again preparing feverishly to outdoor the accused the following day without any notification to the police. 

They gathered in the family house, slaughter a sheep amidst the firing of musketry to commence the rituals. This has resulted in tension in Aflao as the Chiefs and people were in red to signify their readiness for war. 

Some of the youth were seen welding machetes and other weapons. Others were firing warning shoots to deter supporters and loyalists of the rival Aflao Chief. 

Remanding the accused in custody, the Judge Justice Patrick Baayeh said though the offence the accused is charged of is bailable, considering the tense situation in Aflao and for the safety of the accused person, he should be remanded in custody.

GBC