Arrest troublesome foot-soldiers - Minister orders

The Northern Regional Minister, Moses Bukari Mabengba, has directed the police to henceforth arrest and prosecute National Democratic Congress (NDC) foot-soldiers who through unwarranted agitations lock up offices.

Mr. Mabengba indicated that there were laid down regulations on demonstrations in accordance with the public order act but the party's youth in recent times had flouted those rules during their rampages.

He said the increasing number of reports involving foot-soldiers threatening government appointees and locking up their offices in the region was beginning to get on the nerves of the Regional Security Committee (REGSEC).

The minister, who also chairs the Northern Regional Security Committee, therefore directed that such deviant foot-soldiers be arrested and dealt with ruthlessly to serve as a deterrent to others.

"We cannot continue to condone such indiscipline acts in the name of agitations," he remarked.

According to him, the party's youth had the right to demonstrate but were only allowed to present a petition to the President through the minister, after which the matter may be looked into. He however expressed worry at the manner in which some of these foot-soldiers had taken the law into their own hands, treating some government appointees as if they (foot soldiers) had appointed them.

Mr. Mabengba, who spoke to Daily Guide about the ensuing fracas between the West Mamprusi District Chief Executive (DCE), Abudu Sulley Zakari Lord and the youth of the area, disclosed that the situation was calm.

He confirmed Daily Guide's earlier reports that the DCE had been given a 24-hour police protection at both his office and official residence, but indicated that he was cautioned of security implications if he failed to adhere to REGSEC's directives.

The minister hinted that an official report on the matter would be dispatched to President Mills for him to look into the matter, expressing the hope that calm would be restored in the area as soon as possible.

Earlier, the minister and some members of REGSEC called on traditional rulers of the area and pressed upon them to advise the youth in order for peace to prevail in the district after weeks of party agitations.

Foot-soldiers and constituency executives in Walewale declared Lord Sulley Abudu Zakari, the DCE, persona non grata.

The aggrieved foot-soldiers had earlier armed themselves to the teeth and braced themselves for a possible bloodbath if he dared return to the office, which was locked up during the last demonstration.

It would be recalled that hundreds of NDC supporters last Wednesday hit the streets of Walewale for the second time in five months in protest against what they described as the tyranny leadership of Lord Sulley Abudu Zakari.

They were reported to have locked up the offices of the DCE and attempted lynching him but the DCE managed to escape as he had been hinted of their intentions.

The rioters threatened mayhem if he dared resumed official duties, claiming his continued stay in office was derailing the fortunes of the assembly, which for the last two years had witnessed retrogression under his supervision.

The DCE has since resumed official duties but is under heavy security after members of REGSEC visited the area on Wednesday.