Offinso Council accuses Police of bias

The Offinso Traditional Council has accused the Nkenkensu police of taking sides in some chieftaincy disputes in the area.

Following the alleged entrenched position they had taken in some of the chieftaincy disputes, the police are said to have turned their back on the traditional council.

"They have declined to listen to our complaints, even when we report an incident relating to chieftaincy to them, they play it down," the paramount chief of the Traditional Area, Nana Wiafe Akenten III, alleged.

He was interacting with the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Patrick Kwarteng Acheampong, during a courtesy call on him at Offinso on Monday.

The IGP, who was accompanied by the Ashanti Regional Police Commander, Frank Adu-Poku, was on a three-day working tour of some parts of the Ashanti Region to inspect some police establishments and interact with personnel.

Apparently not happy about the manner the police had been handling chieftaincy matters in the area, the paramount chief appealed to the IGP to reshuffle the personnel.

According to him, some of the police personnel had been there for many years and had fraternised with the people so it was difficult at times for them to stamp their authority in some situations.

He pointed out that Nkenkensu was one of the towns in Offinso associated with numerous chieftaincy disputes and the presence of the police was much needed.

The paramount chief explained that there was a recent uproar at Nkenkensu when the youth took the law into their own hands and attempted destooling a chief recognised by the traditional council.

"But when the police were informed they showed little or no concern," Nana Akenten claimed.

Responding, the IGP promised to ensure discipline among the personnel.

At a meeting with personnel at Akumadan, Mr. Acheampong cautioned that the service would deal ruthlessly with any policeman who would flout the rules.

"If you cannot abide by the rules of the service, it is better to quit than to bring disgrace to the entire service," he cautioned.

He charged personnel to be abreast of the constitution on issues bothering on human rights to enable them to be focused.

Source: The Ghanaian Times