Minister Survives 'Assassination' Attempt

The Volta Regional Minister, Mr. Samuel Kofi Dzamesi survived an assassination attempt on his life by one Dan Agbale, believed to be a native of Dekpor near Dzodze in the Ketu-north District of the Volta Region.

Dan forcibly entered the Regional Minister's residence through the main gate in spite of the refusal by the police security to allow him in, at about 9:30pm on the 2nd of June 2008.

Speaking to The Chronicle, the Volta Regional Police Commander, DCOP Bernard Dery confirmed the story and said the man was holding dangerous implements like hammer, knife, with certain substances believed to be Indian hemp and talisma.

Commander Derry said after the intruder made his way into the residence he was spotted and the security men, including the residency staff of the Minister embarked on a search for him. The Ho Municipal Police Commander arrived at the Minister's residence later to assist the search party.

DCOP Derry explained that the police gave warning shots aimed at scaring the intruder to make him come out from his hide out. The suspect suddenly appeared from his hide out and pounced on the senior police officer who was holding a riffle.

The suspect, believed to have fortified himself for the mission defied all the gunshots and over powered the police and took over the riffle. Another police officer then shot him in the leg and the hand, but the man was still standing on his feet to fight on. Sensing danger, the police then aimed the shot at the suspect's stomach and killed him instantly.

Commander Derry said the man was at the Minister's house to assassinate the Regional Minister, as he earlier broke into his hall and destroyed everything on sight.

The Ho Municipal Police Commander, who got wounded during the exchanges, is currently on admission at the Volta Regional Hospital where he has successfully undergone surgical operations. The body of the deceased has been dumped at the mortuary.

The Regional Minister who was away at the time of the incident told news men at the regional Hospital in Ho that he knew the deceased who was apparently in the house to assassinate him. He said he even enrolled him at a driving school just to enable him have a trade that he could practice to survive.

According to him the deceased promised to come to his house to thank him for the help he had extended to him, but he did not hear anything from him again until he surfaced at his residence apparently to assassinate him.