Togbi Sri Petitions IGP

The Awomefia Secretariat, the administrative arm of the office of Togbui Sri III, has complained to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) about what it called “the active involvement of Raymond Okudzeto in police investigations and post mortem examinations into the victims of the recent killings at Anloga”.

Describing Mr. Okudzeto as the main person who orchestrated the recent bloodbath in which four people were killed, the secretariat said he was only pretending to be mourning the dead who, according to it, were victims of his own actions.

It further expressed worry that after masterminding the November 1, 2007 bloodbath, Mr. Okudzeto was not only boasting that he is a close friend to the Interior Minister, but also making frantic efforts to interfere with investigations.

These concerns were contained in a petition dated November 28, 2007 and signed by Philip Sorkpor, administrator to the stool secretariat.

According to the petition, which was copied to the Chief of Staff, Minister of the Interior, and Minister of National Security, it was the same Okudzeto who warned of bloodbath and mayhem, if the Adzovia Clan goes ahead to install Torgbui Sri III, the then regent as the substantive Awomefia.

It alleged that Okudzeto was the brain behind the organization of thugs, many of who wielded locally-manufactured guns, cutlasses and stones, to attack their perceived enemies and the police.

“We cannot hide our disgust by the way they continue to throw their weight about and shouting at the top of their voices on radio stations about their friendly contact with the Minister of the Interior and many others in a bid to stultify investigations and prevent the arrest of culprits, including him and his cohorts,” the statement remarked.

The petition said the attention of the secretariat had been drawn to a donation of ¢5million to the relations of the four victims of the incident, and expressed shock that the security agencies were sitting aloof.

It was of the opinion that the authorities had become lame because of what it referred to as “the inferior propaganda tactics” he uses by first accusing the police and government in a matter that is purely an Adzovia matter.

“The recent post-mortem examination attempt of the victims, which involved the said Raymond Okudzeto, is a deep surprise to us. How does Okudzeto come into the show if he is not there in an attempt to hide the truth?

Why is he trying to cover the truth?”
The petition noted that his complicity should be investigated, adding that the meetings he holds in his house should be monitored before the country is forced to believe his bragging that he is a personal friend to the Interior Minister, and therefore cannot be prosecuted.

It cautioned that Okudzeto and his cohorts were still at their scheming best and needed to be checked before they cause further trouble.

“We anticipate your early response to end their clandestine activities and nip in the bud any attempt to repeat the bloodbath in Anlo,” it said.

It would be recalled that Anloga, the traditional seat of the Anlo State, was turned into a theater of mayhem a few hours after Okudzeto warned of bloodbath if the intended installation of an Awomefia was carried out.

Three civilians and a policeman were killed by a mob. Several people also sustained various degrees of injury and were hospitalized at the Keta District Hospital.

The dead included Constable Moses Adaba of the Ho Police Task Force, Mama Senyo, 48, Israel Ahadzi, 28, and Mawuko Togba, 47.
The Police Operations Leader, ASP Mifetu, and Aikins Darkey of the Keta Division, were both hit in the leg by stray bullets.

Raymond and a few people said the installation was not proper, but in a sharp response, the Paramount Chief (Makorso) of Somey Traditional Area, Torgbui Hor II, most senior ruler in the kingdom, said they were only blowing hot air.

By Wisdom Peter Awuku