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31.08.2009 General News

MPs Inspect Agbogbloshie Carnage

By Daily Guide
Members of the Committee and PoliceMembers of the Committee and Police
31.08.2009 LISTEN

THE SELECT Committee of Defence, Interior and National Security of Parliament on Friday visited the trouble scene at Agbogbloshie market in Accra where three people were recently butchered to death and others inflicted with life threatening wounds by ruthless goons alleged to be roaming freely in town.

Members of the Committee toured the area to acquaint themselves with the circumstances which led to the deadly confrontation between people believed to be supporters of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), all coming from Dagbon in the Northern Region.

So far, the police have not reported the arrests of any perpetrators though some people had been widely fingered in the dastardly mayhem which has been said to have political undertones.

At the time of the visit to the crime scene at Agbogbloshie market, several armed police personnel had surrounded the area, ostensibly to avert any ensuing confrontations between the feuding factions and to maintain law and order.

Members of the Parliamentary Select Committee were met at the scene by the Greater Accra Regional Police Commander, DCOP Rose Atinga Bio, and other officers of the police service including the James Town District Commander, Superintendent Oklu Gyamera and DSP Samuel Kwesi Ofori for debriefing.

In debriefing the Committee, both the Regional Commander, DCOP Atinga and Superintendent Gyamera noted that but for the swift intervention of the police; the casualties would have been higher than recorded.

DCOP Atinga told the Committee that the Police had to act decisively to prevent further chaos, adding that the police would continue to keep vigilance to prevent crime and to bring the perpetrators to book.

Accompanied by his ranking member, William Ofori Boafo and other members, the Chairman of the Committee, Alhaji Abukari Sumani, asked the people of Dagbon not to export their chieftaincy conflict to Agbogbloshie as the inhabitants there are peace loving people.

He however suggested that until the killers of Dagbon King, Yaa Naa and several others were found and punished, there would not be lasting peace between the feuding factions of the Dagbon conflict.

Alhaji Abukari, who is also the Member of Parliament for Tamale North, said the committee was at the Agbogbloshie crime scene not to find faults but to assess the situation on the ground and to encourage the police to continue to keep the peace in the area.

The committee, he pointed out, had so much confidence in the police to keep the peace, assuring the police, “We have no doubts in your capabilities and very proud to be associated with you. We are here to boost your morale to keep the peace”.

The Ranking Member of the Committee, Hon. Boafo, said the Agbogbloshie incident was a national problem which needs collective effort to bring the situation under control.

“The Committee is made up of members from both the Majority NDC and the Minority NPP sides and our presence here signifies our collective aspiration to work together. We want our supporters to realize that we are together in Parliament,” Hon. Boafo, who is also the MP for Akropong in the Eastern Region, admonished.

He appealed to all the feuding factions to co-operate with the police in their quest to bring peace to the Agbogbloshie area and other trouble prone spots of the country.

“Ghana has one of the efficient police systems in the world and all of us should help the police service to keep the peace in the country and to live up to expectation so that their enviable international image will be protected,” Hon. Boafo urged.

By Awudu Mahama

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