Government will not endorse wrongdoing, misbehaviour-- Minister

Akim Oda (E/R), March 01, GNA- The Eastern Regional Minster, Mr. Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo has observed that the government will not endorse wrongdoing and therefore it is not fair for people to point accusing fingers to government for every misbehaviour in the society. The Regional Minister, who was addressing the leadership of the Ghana Private Road Transport Unions at Oda following the clash between drivers and personnel from the Military Jungle Warfare School at Achiase on Friday stressed that there were laws in the country that bounds every Ghanaian, irrespective of status or political colour. Mr. Ofosu-Ampofo expressed displeasure at the current trend where every incident in the society was attributed to the change of government and cautioned those who perpetrated wrongful acts in the name of "ye aban na aba" meaning, "our government is in power" to stop from such negative behaviours .

He explained that the military and civilians were not enemies and therefore aggrieved persons needed to use the laid down channels to seek redress other than taking the law into their hands. The Regional Minister took the opportunity to advice drivers to obey traffic regulations and urged the leadership of the transport unions to ensure that their members exhibit professionalism in their daily work. He noted that the clash on Thursday that brought commercial activities in the Akim Oda township to a halt as well as the injuries to even innocent people would cost the nation a lot. The Member of Parliament for Oda, Mr Yaw Owusu Boateng who was at the meeting called for a full investigation into the clash so that the perpetrators were brought to book to forestall such occurrences. He said the clashes between personnel from the military and the civilian population in the area had root causes which must be delved into to find a lasting solution.

The chairman of the district GPRTU, Mr Kwame Owusu who narrated what happened to the Regional Minister accused the military of not respecting the civilian population and called for a proper investigation into the whole issue.

The Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) George Anko-Bil proposed the re-introduction of station guards who normally acts as the first line of defence to ensure that traffic regulations were obeyed by commercial drivers. He advised that in times of such situations people should not take the law into their own hands but rather should call the police to control the situation.