Minister worried over lawlessness in E/R

By: Isaac Akwetey-Okunor, Koforidua
The Eastern Regional Minister, Emmanuel Victor Smith, has called on all the security agencies and other stakeholders to help address the rising lawlessness that had characterised the region.

The worried Minister contended that the peaceful atmosphere blowing over the region could suffer a jolt if immediate measures were not put in place to avert the increasing lawlessness.

He has, therefore, called on the security agencies to rise up and ensure peace by arresting rabble-rousers. Victor Smith was speaking at a meeting with Departmental Heads, Regional Commanders of the Security Services and District Chief Executives at Koforidua recently.

The Regional Minister said no nation or society could develop in an atmosphere of insecurity, chaos, and disorder.

' I don't see why somebody or group of people should hold the entire region to ransom by creating confusion, misunderstanding, and showing gross disrespect for the law,' he stated.

He continued: 'I am not going to entertain these acts of indiscipline and lawlessness in the region, as far as I remain the Regional Minister.'

According to the Minister, apart from issues of the Fulani menace, the region had virtually come under siege by the activities of galamsey (illegal miners), chainsaw operators, armed robbers and other social deviants.

To this end, he stated, the Regional Security Council had endeavoured to maintain peace, law and order to enable the citizens of the region carry out their legitimate business without hindrance.

He has also called on residents, particularly those in leadership positions of the region, to ensure that, as much as possible, they resort to the peaceful solution of conflicts, and choose the path of dialogue, rather than violence.