Anlo men run away

Even before a dusk-to-dawn curfew was imposed on Anloga and its environs in the wake of a bloody clash between two factions in the Anlo chieftaincy dispute, the area had become a ghost town as residents swam across the lagoon to nearby towns and villages.

Fearing reprisal from the police following reports that a policeman had been abducted and murdered by unknown persons in the community, the people hurriedly left the town, leaving the aged and a few people behind.

Police personnel on Thursday and Friday mounted extensive operations in a bid to ‘locate and rescue’ their kidnapped colleague, General Constable Moses Daba of the Volta Regional Police Task Force, who was later found dead.

DAILY GUIDE learnt that some residents escaped the wrath of the police by jumping into the Keta lagoon and swimming across to other villages where they remained in hiding.

A number of arrests had been made, with the police promising to carry out their operations with utmost professionalism.

Confusion broke out following attempts by the chiefs and kingmakers of the Anlo Traditional Council to install Regent Torbgui Sri III as the new Awoamefia to succeed the late Torgbui Adeladza II, who died 11 years ago.

Businessman Nyonyo Agboada, Traditional Council and kingmakers were on their way to perform the final rituals which would have paved the way for his installation as the Awoamefia of the Anlos when some irate youth blocked the passage to the Vornugah- a courtyard where installation rituals are performed, resulting in the death of three people, while several others were wounded.

An injunction had been placed on the installation after violence erupted, when the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Joe Ghartey, filed an ex-parte motion at an Accra Fast Track High Court, restraining the ceremony to enstool Torgbui Sri.

Reports say the 6.00p.m to 6.00a.m curfew announced in Accra on Friday by Minister of the Interior, Kwamena Bartels, was not received by residents of Anloga and its environs. It took the Information Services Department’s van to inform the community.

A high-powered ministerial team, led by Mr. Bartels on Saturday visited the scene of the incident to assess the situation and take measures to maintain law and order.

Other members of the team were Albert Kan-Dapaah, Minister of Defence; Joe Ghartey, Attorney-General and Minister of Justice; Kofi Dzamesi, Volta Regional Minister; Kofi Ahiabor, Keta District Chief Executive; DCOP Patrick Timbillah, Director-General of Police Operations; Lt. Col. E. W. Kotia, Commanding Officer, 66 Artillery Regiment, Ho; and ACP Bernard Dery, Volta Regional Police Commander.

After the delegation had touched down from the Ghana Airforce helicopter at the Anloga Secondary School Park at about 8.30 am, a briefing on the current situation was made by Chief Superintendent Alhaji Hamidu Mahama, Deputy Volta Regional Police Commander and Captain Ben Baba Pantoah of the 66 Artillery Regiment, Ho.

They both recounted the circumstances leading to the clashes and subsequent loss of lives, especially the kidnapping and murder of Constable Moses Daba of the Volta Regional Police Task Force in Ho.

The two officers informed the delegation that despite the cold-blooded murder of a policeman, morale among the security personnel was high and that they had been professional in their dealings with civilians in the area, particularly those who had been apprehended for questioning.

They mentioned that there were about 256 police personnel with 10 officers while the military was made up of 40 soldiers and two officers on the ground to maintain law and order.

The Keta DCE, Mr. Ahiabor, appealed to the Interior Minister to assist in taking care of the security personnel since the burden was being borne by the District Security Council.

After the briefing, the team held a closed-door meeting and later left for Vornugah where the clash occurred.

The team also inspected the house of Torgbui Awusi, the Awadada of Anlo which is directly opposite the Vornugah where the kidnapped policeman was allegedly taken to and murdered later.

The delegation then went to Lashiebi Torkor, where Constable Moses Daba’s body was found, and later addressed a contingent of police and a battalion of soldiers.

Mr. Bartels commended them for their professionalism and immense sacrifice, and urged them to keep up the good work.

He announced a ban on the carrying of arms in and around Anloga in the Volta Region, disclosing that an Executive Instrument had been issued to that effect.

On his part, Mr. Kan-Dapaah, who addressed the soldiers, said the people of Anloga were law-abiding, asking the army officers to employ professionalism in handling the situation.

The delegation later visited the Keta Government Hospital to wish Believe Tay and Kwashie Golomeke, who were on admission, speedy recovery.

The team had since returned to Accra.