The Enchi District Magistrate Court has granted bail in the amount of GH¢10,000 with two sureties to a 35-year-old farmer who is on trial for allegedly making derogatory remarks about Nana Kojo Meah III, the Chief of Boinso, in the Aowin Municipality, Western North Region.
The court also mandated that Kojo Armoh, the accused, visit the chief’s palace with his elders and provide a traditional, unconditional apology in addition to setting bail.
He entered a not-guilty plea to the charge and is scheduled to return to court on Monday, February 12.
Armoh is a resident of Boinso, the prosecuting police detective Chief Inspector Joseph Kwadwo Agyare said the Mr. Lawrence Buanor-Buer-presiding court.
He stated that on January 11, 2024, at approximately 7:35 p.m., a case witness and two more witnesses observed Armoh surrounded by a large crowd at the popular “City Office” location in Boinso, recording an audio clip on his cellphone and disparaging the complainant.
The case’s facts state that after the witness told Nana Meah III about what he had heard, he went to confirm it and met Armoh, who was being publicly criticized by him and his elders without providing any evidence.
Nana Meah III, who was embarrassed, reported the event to the Boinso Police Post, according to Detective Chief Inspector Agyare. However, the case was later forwarded to the Enchi District Police Command for additional investigation.
He claimed that statements were obtained from both the complainant and the witness and that the complainant had supplied the audio recordings Armoh had made for the police.
The audio recordings were produced in the Brosah language, and an impartial party performed the translation.
The court was informed that Armoh was taken into custody by the police and that, according to him, he recorded the audio because he loved the people in the Boinso community.
According to the prosecution, Armoh stated that Nana Meah III had brought in illegal miners to explore for gold in a forest reserve at Boinso. However, he and a few young people from the town objected and drove the miners out.
After that, Armoh stated that they opposed Nana Meah III’s plan to hire a timber contractor to cut trees from the same forest. According to Detective Chief Inspector Agyare, Armoh uploaded the audio recordings to “Boinso world,” a social media account set up by certain Boinso locals where they discuss important problems and exchange views.
