Drama unfolds as Yilo Krobo Paramount Chief is jailed for contempt

The Paramount Chief of the Yilo Krobo Traditional Area, Nene Oklepeme Nuer Anorbah Sasraku, was convicted on May 12, 2025. The Koforidua High Court sentenced him to four days in prison for contempt of court. His transfer to prison was controversial and confusing.

Judge Jennifer Myers Ahmed ordered the chief to sign a six-month bond. This followed his failure to appear in court for contempt charges. His repeated absences led to a bench warrant for his arrest.

After the court's decision, Corporal Albert Sitso Annan escorted the chief to Koforidua Central Prisons. However, prison authorities stated that he never officially arrived at the facility. Ezekiel Korletey, Public Relations Officer for Koforidua Prisons, reported that they arrived around 6:45 p.m., nearly ten hours after the ruling.

By then, the chief appeared ill and had medical cannulas on his wrists. Due to his condition, prison officials refused admission and sent him for a medical assessment instead. They instructed that he return the following day.

However, neither the officer nor the chief returned as expected. Following pressure from lawyer Denis Yao Terkpertey and intervention from the Eastern Regional Police Commander, they found him receiving treatment at CDC Hospital in Betom.

In an interview, Mr. Terkpertey expressed concern over attempts to obstruct justice. He criticized delays in transferring the chief and questioned the integrity of the process. Meanwhile, prison officials claimed they followed protocol and were not involved in any delays or issues regarding his location.

This incident has sparked public debate about justice enforcement and treatment of high-profile individuals under law.