One shot dead, several injured after police clash with Krobo residents

One person has been shot dead while several others have sustained severe injuries when residents of Odumase Krobo in the Eastern Region clashed with police over a mass disconnection exercise undertaken by officials of Power Distribution Company (PDS) earlier today.

The residents allegedly blocked the town road to prevent the PDS officers who were being escorted by police officers to switch off the main transformer that supplies power to the town.

They allegedly pelted them with stones, smashing the windscreen of a pickup vehicle belonging to PDS.

But they managed to carry out the exercise. A police statement confirmed.

However, dissatisfied with the turn of events, the residents insisted on meeting the MCE to address the issue but police officers dispatched to cordon off the municipal assembly offices reportedly opened fire on the rampaging youth.

In their attempt to ostensibly disperse the crowd, a stray bullet hit a bystander, a 14-year-old boy.

The latest incident follows a recent clash between residents and police when the latter blocked town roads to protest a mass disconnection exercise undertaken by officials of Power Distribution Company.

The people of Manya and Yilo Krobo have been up in arms with the ECG, now PDS with the former insisting and vowed not to pay what they say is over billing.

What triggered their refusal, according to them, is an existing MOU their forefathers signed with VRA when government took part of their lands for the construction of the Akosombo Dam.

Irate youth in the Somanya and Odumasi two years ago attacked and vandalized the ECG office in Somanya and destroyed police properties in protest of electricity bills.