THE PALACE of Nana Osei Akoto, Chief of Sesamo near Buoho in the Affigya Kwabre District of the Ashanti Region was recently turned into a war zone as gunshots were fired indiscriminately at the place.

Reports indicated that there was a gun battle between the chief, who was under attack, and some men who had stormed the palace.

In the course of the shooting two of the alleged attackers, whose names were not immediately known, sustained gunshot wounds, fired by Nana Osei Akoto.

The two persons that sustained the gunshot wounds were reported to be in critical condition and were receiving treatment at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi.

Addressing the media to state his side of the disturbing matter, Nana Osei Akoto admitted firing at the two, indicating that the swift manner in which he fired the gun saved his life.

According to him, his attackers who were firing shots at will, had broken into his bedroom where he had taken refuge and they were about to shoot him but he acted swiftly.

The Sesamo traditional leader stated that he shot the two persons in self defence, recounting the destruction that the ‘macho’ men unleashed on his palace.

According to him, his attackers were bent on taking away his life as they sang war songs amid firing of guns which sent the other fear-stricken inhabitants of the palace fleeing for cover.

He noted that most of his loyalists at the crime scene suffered body injuries, adding that the rest of the ‘macho’ men took to their heels upon realizing that two of their colleagues had been shot at.

Nana Osei Akoto alleged that Opanin Kofi Krah, who is parading as Odikro of the town, might have hired them to kill him.

He alleged that Opanin Kofi Krah, whom he described as his rival, was being sponsored by one Oftwum, a businessman, to cause mayhem and insecurity at Sasamo lately.

The most annoying part of the incident, the chief bemoaned, was the fact that Opanin Kofi Krah and Oftwum were also boasting around that they were untouchable.

The Sesamo Chief admitted that the recent shooting incident had heightened the tension in the town so he passionately appealed to the regional police command to be on the alert to help save human lives.

The chief also asked the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, overlord of Asanteman, to quickly bring his judgment in a protracted chieftaincy case between himself (Nana Akoto) and Opanin Kofi Krah.

He was of the conviction that the Asantehene’s ruling in the chieftaincy matter would help deflate the undue tension in the area and help save human lives and property.