Ex-Queen Mother of Mankessim, four others in court over death of NIB Director

The former Queen Mother of Mankessim, Nana Ama Amissah III, and four others, including a Fire Service officer, are set to appear before the Weija District Court today, January 20, 2025.

The accused are facing charges related to the alleged murder of Samuel Ampofo, the Mankessim Municipal Director of the National Investigations Bureau (NIB), and Kofi Yamoah during a chieftaincy dispute.

The incident, which occurred on December 7, 2019, also left three individuals, including a police inspector, with gunshot wounds.

Six Years of Investigations

The case has been under investigation by the Cold Case Unit of the Ghana Police Service for six years. Initially, 13 suspects were arrested, but after a review by the Attorney General’s Office, six individuals, including Nana Ama Amissah III, were charged and slated for prosecution.

The other suspects appearing before the court include James Kofi Obosu (alias Nana Obosu Amissah), a farmer; Joseph Kobina Ansah (alias Nana Okutseku), a Fire Service officer; Robert Gardiner, a driver; John Eric Kofi Turkson (alias Nana Edu); and Clement Kwesi Owusu, an electrical contractor and teacher.

Nana Ama Amissah III is accused of masterminding the shooting after allegedly presiding over a meeting where the plot was planned.

Background of the Incident

The violence erupted during a procession in Mankessim to celebrate the installation of a new Queen Mother, Nana Araba Otua I.

The installation followed a Cape Coast High Court ruling that nullified the gazetting of Nana Ama Amissah III and another claimant, Nana Osagyefo Amanfo Edu VI, after a legal contest by the Aduko Paakesedo Nsona family.

At about 1:30 p.m. on December 7, 2019, a gunman opened fire near the Edu Nsona Royal Family residence, killing Ampofo and Yamoah.

Both victims were pronounced dead at Mankessim Roman Hospital. Ballistic examinations later confirmed the gunshots came from a pump-action or single-barrelled gun.

Reports suggest that members of the Aduko Paakesedo Nsona family had been tipped off about plans to disrupt the installation. When the NIB Director, Ampofo, intervened to disarm a gunman identified as James Kofi Obosu, he was allegedly shot at close range.

Further investigations linked the violence to a long-standing chieftaincy dispute between the Edu Nsona and Aduko Paakesedo Nsona royal families.

Role of Nana Ama Amissah III

According to the prosecution, Nana Ama Amissah III allegedly organized meetings to plan the disruption of the installation ceremony. She is accused of hiring armed men, referred to as “Zongo Boys,” for GH₵10,000 to execute the plan.

On the day of the shooting, she reportedly met the armed men at the Mankessim Roundabout, provided them with weapons, and directed them to the Edu Nsona family house, where the violence unfolded.

Arrests and Legal Proceedings

James Kofi Obosu was the first suspect arrested, followed by others implicated in the case. Nana Ama Amissah III was apprehended at the CID Headquarters in Accra after responding to an invitation to assist with investigations.

The committal proceedings will determine whether the case advances to a higher court for trial, marking a crucial step in addressing a case that has lingered for over half a decade.

Source: myrepubliconline.com