Apedwa, Aug 9, GNA - Nine persons including the Queen mother of Apedwa, Nana Asantewa Aboagyewa, and the new Chief of the town, Nana Obeng Kwarifa, have been arrested by the police over an attack on the chief's palace in a bid to eject the destooled chief of Apedwa, Nana Addo Gyekye, on Tuesday.

At the time of the attack Nana Addo Gyekye was in Accra whiles his younger brother, who stays in the palace, had also travelled. Briefing the Ghana News the Kibi Divisional Crime Officer, Assistant Superintendent of Police Hussein Musah Awinaba, said the incident was as a result of a long-standing dispute between supporters of the old and new chiefs.

Mr Awinaba said on Monday, the Okyeman Abuakwa Traditional Council confirmed its earlier decision that Nana Addo Gyekye had been destooled and was therefore not regarded by the council as the chief of Apedwa. Therefore, supporters of Nana Obeng Kwarifa, who was installed by the queenmother based on the decision of the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Council, broke into the palace to forcibly eject Nana Addo Gyekye. In reprisal, supporters of Nana Addo Gyekye attacked a private school and set fire to all the tables and chairs because they suspected the proprietor to be one of the leaders of the youth who attacked the palace.

On the same day, an unknown person shot at the Queen mother while she was asleep in her bedroom but missed her. The Okyeman Council destooled Nana Addo Gyekye on the grounds of non-performance but he took the matter to the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs that ruled in his favour.

During the attack belongings of Nana Addo Gyekye, including a set of living room furniture, were thrown at the entrance of the palace and some of his personal belongings were set on fire.