VRCC to refer unprofessional conduct of security personnel

Ho, Jan 4, GNA - The Volta Regional Co-ordinating Council (VRCC) is to refer a complaint of unprofessional conduct of the Military and Police detachment maintaining the truce between the Nkonya and Alavanyo traditional areas to the Volta Regional Security Council (VREGSEC). Mr Kwasi Owusu-Yeboa, Volta Regional Minister, disclosed this when he met eight Chiefs of the Alavanyo Traditional Area led by Togbega Tsedze Atakora VII, Paramount Chief, at Ho on Tuesday.

The Chiefs alleged that the detachment normally dressed some Nkonya citizens in police or military uniform as guides in the bush on the controversial land, the source of misunderstanding between the two traditional areas.

They said, that was against the agreement that representatives from both sides should accompany investigating teams into the bush. Togbe Atakora told the Minister that the latest incident happened on Wednesday January 21, this year when a team investigating a report of destruction of a village, went there for verification with some Nkonya citizens, dressed in police and military uniforms and arrested an Alavanyo young man who had gone to his farm.

He said the young man was made to carry a load of plantain and escorted first to Alavanyo-Kpeme, where some citizens identified some of the men in uniform as civilians from Nkonya.

Togbe Atakora said the young man who was alleged to be carrying Indian hemp in a lady's hand bag, which was part of the luggage he was made to carry was later detained, handcuff in the open at Nkonya-Ahenkro and left to be maltreated by some citizens of the town.

He said he called a meeting with heads of the security agencies stationed in the conflict zone and demanded an explanation. Togbe Atakora claimed that a Warrant Officer said he could not deny the charge since the detachment sometimes used the local citizens as guides in the unfamiliar terrains.

Togbe Atakora said his subjects had also seen people who were not military or police personnel walking through the bushes with members of the detachment.

Mr Owusu-Yeboa said the REGSEC, comprised all the security heads in the region competent in conflict management, adding that, they would address the issue expeditiously.

He promised to contact the Military and Police Commanders in the region before the REGSEC meeting to initiate investigations into the allegations.

The Minister urged the Chiefs and their elders to prevail on their subjects to exercise restraint, saying, "war does not solve problems, it only complicates problems, you win the war but lose the peace". Togbe Atakora said investigations into the disappearance of Mr Kofi Amponi, a Senior Linguist of the Alavanyo Traditional Area, on February 1, last year, had come to nothing.

The Minister urged people in the area to help the police to unravel the mystery.

He noted that people talk about knowing about crimes, but refused to cooperate with the police when contacted.

Mr Owusu-Yeboa said he believed the Police had not forgotten about the disappearance of the Linguist and gave the assurance that the VRCC "would not condone with a situation where the police just gloss over crimes committed".