Forestry Commission 'thugs' kill innocent man in Tarkwa-Nsuaem as MCE wants perpetrators arrested

Some thugs purporting to be working for the Forestry Commission within the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipality of the Western Region have shot and killed an innocent man in his mid-forties without provocation.

Speaking to the media, the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Benjamin Kessie described the incident as very unfortunate.

According to the MCE, they got information three days ago that someone has been shot and killed around Papaho Community near the Nuong Forest where a mining company called Capsor claims to have their concession.

He said, this Capsor mining company had written to the Forestry Commission requesting to bring their own private security to augment the work of the forestry guards which was unfortunately granted by the forestry.

The MCE stated that these unregistered or unrecognized armed personnel have been going on random shooting spree just to scare the community folks away, meanwhile these folks also have their farm lands around the same area.

He recounted that it was one such shooting spree that severely injured one community folk three months ago and he is currently still receiving treating at the hospital.

The MCE lamented that, "this had become a security threat to the locals so they reported the matter to us at the Municipal Security Council and we held a meeting arriving at the conclusion that these guys are no private security but gun wielding thugs".

The MCE stated, "further that they reported the matter to the police to chase these guys out of town but with the endorsement and support of the thugs by the Chief Executive of Forestry Mr. John Allotey, the police were unable to exercise their mandate only for us to wake up to the realization that these thugs have actually shot and killed a man in his mid-forties couple of days ago".

However, the Forestry has admitted that the incident happened during their joint operation with the ‘’thugs’ and the matter has since been reported to the police for investigation.

But, the MCE during the interview, stated emphatically that these thugs cannot continue to mutilate and kill innocent indigenes within the community and therefore they must be flushed out immediately.

He added saying, "we are by your kind courtesy using your medium to reach out to the relevant ministry and agencies in charge to do the needful and we will be following up with official letters too to ensure these guys are flushed out of our communities and those who must be prosecuted too face the law".

Meanwhile, there are other information that suggest that these thugs have been strategically sent there simply to cause trouble and disturb the constituency so as to dwindle down the electoral fortunes of the sitting Member of Parliament.

The MCE is therefore, calling on the Ghana Police to act and arrest the culprits immediately.