Mampong (Ash), June 16, GNA - The Asante Mampong District Magistrate's Court on Wednesday remanded 11 adults and three juveniles 18 into Prison and Police custody, respectively, for gambling and smoking a substance suspected to be Indian hemp.

The Presiding Magistrate Mr Eric Daning did not take their plea and remanded them for two weeks to reappear on June 23, 2006. The suspects mostly porters and in their early twenties included Aniaba Akentese; Lawal Adutwa; Awo Belisa; Asipuru Kangahka; Clement Alhassan; Ayawere Koomson and Kunyiribua Bulisa. Others were, Kwasi Awiniba; Ayoma Builsa; Baba Fela and Michael Achoma.

The juveniles were Kankani Bulisa, 17; Nobik Nakpreng, 15 and Baba Abu 15.

The same Court in June 6 2006 remanded 12 people into prison custody until June 20 for similar offences bringing to 26 the number of people remanded at Mampong in less than two weeks following the upsurge of criminal activities in the area.

The Court, however, said parents of the juveniles could bail them if they could stand as surety for them.

Mr Daning noted that social vices perpetuated in the Mampong Township in recent times was gradually becoming uncontrollable and warned that the Court would not spare anyone or group of persons found engaged in any form of criminal activity. "The law shall take its due course so that law abiding citizens in the Mampong Township could carry out their normal activities", Mr Daning added.

Fire destroys chief's palace at Assin Akonfodi

Assin Akonfodi (C/R), June 16, GNA - Property worth more than 260 million cedis was destroyed on Saturday when fire gutted the palace of Nana Kwenkyi Kuma II, chief of Assin Akonfodi, in the Assin North District.

The items destroyed included, gold ornaments, palanquin, kente cloths, umbrellas and household utensils.

According to Mr Kwamena Hayford, Station Officer of the Assin Fosu District Office of the Ghana National Fire Service, it took a crew of six to put off the fire, which lasted about 30 minutes. He said the cause of the fire was being investigated. In another development about 20 people were rendered homeless at Assin Bereku when 10 buildings collapsed following a heavy down pour on Saturday.

Mr Clement Kofi Phobi, Assin North District Co-ordinator of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), who led other officials of the organisation to inspect the damage and to console the victims appealed to people who wish to put up new buildings to contact the District Assembly for advice.

He also appealed to the inhabitants to plant trees in their surroundings to serve as wind brakes.