Atomic Workers Freed

The over 30 security and senior officers of the Atomic Energy Commission who were grabbed by the police for allegedly setting a sales point belonging to a Chinese investor at Dome-Kwabenya on fire, were yesterday given a hero's welcome to the 28 th February Road Courts  as their colleague workers cheered them when they arrived in pick-up vehicles.

The workers, who arrived at the court in their hundreds in anticipation that their arrested colleagues would be brought to court for trial, were pleasantly surprised as the suspects were transported from police custody and let off the hook at the court. They sang and chanted, calling the security men and their boss, Felix Adeku, and one Major Samuel Kuleke heroes who had risked their lives to ensure that the right thing was done.

More workers who heard that their colleagues had been released without being tried rushed to the court to show solidarity, openly jubilating that the plans of the Chinese investor had come to naught.

All this while, some of the senior officers including the Director-General, Prof. Edward Akaho and Prof. Francis Allotey, a board member of the commission who were with the workers, said they were informed that the arrested workers would not be charged.

Prof. Akaho did not say much, except that they were waiting for the other workers as some of them were taken to other courts at Osu.  

Prof. Allottey, in an interview with the media, urged the government to protect the commission from encroachers as failure to do so would taint the image of Ghana on the international scene.

He said the workers were threatened with guns so they had to defend themselves and ensure that the interest of the organization was protected.

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Prof Edward Akaho at the court yesterday
According to him, the International Atomic Agency was holding a meeting on the development in Ghana and said the decision to prosecute the workers could affect the way the international community perceived Ghana.

He said the action by the commission was to protect lives and property in case of any eventuality, noting that the commission would not want to be held responsible for anything unpleasant happening to any citizen.

Explaining further, he stated that the land in question belonged to the commission.

It would be recalled that on Monday, Professor Edward E. Akaho, together with 35 other security and senior officers of the commission, were arrested by the police for allegedly setting ablaze a sales point office structure belonging to a Chinese investor at Dome-Kwabenya in Accra.

The office structure belonging to Anaiana International Company Limited, the Chinese company, was razed down by fire following an attack by the men in the early hours on Monday

The commission and the Chinese company are both laying claim to a 164-acre piece of land in the area.

According to the police information, the Atomic Energy Commission officials arrested included Professor Akaho, Major Samuel Kuleke, Chief Security, and Felix Adeku, Administrator.

A police source said the security officers attacked the company on the orders of Professor Akaho.

By Fidelia Achama