Police in the Brong Ahafo Region are hunting for the former District Chief Executive (DCE) for Atebubu, Sampson Owusu Boateng, for allegedly inciting last Tuesday’s clashes in the town that led to the burning of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) party office.
Three people were arrested following the clashes in Atebubu-Amantin on Tuesday, after some supporters of the former DCE, Sampson Owusu Boateng, and those of the Member of Parliament for the area, Sanja Nanja, clashed over Owusu Boateng’s dismissal from office.
His angry supporters subsequently set fire to the NDC party office.
The Police have indicated that there had already been simmering tension among some of the youth in the area even before the removal of Owusu Boateng.
Speaking on Citi Eyewitness News, Public Relations Officer of the Brong Ahafo Regional Police Command, ASP Christopher Tawiah, accused the DCE of instigating the youth to misbehave after he was given a letter asking him to vacate his office.
He explained that some police officers arrived at the party office to quell the tensions, but the youth grew more restless hurling insults and curses at the police.
ASP Tawaiah stated that, following the assessment of the situation, some property including a vehicle at the party office was protected from being vandalized.
He says the police officers only returned to find the office on fire.
Police not at fault
ASP Tawiah said the police could not be blamed for the escalation of the situation. According to ASP Tawiah, “The whole issue came of all of a sudden. We didn’t know people were planning to do this and riot control teams are available in the capitals but not in the districts.”
He also pointed out that they quickly made some arrests after the act of arson saying, “We haven’t failed; we have arrested some people and we are processing them for court and we will see what happens going forward.”
Dismissed DCE on the run
ASP Tawiah alleged that the dismissed DCE instigated the attack and that the police were on the lookout for him since he’s nowhere to be found.
“If he was around, we would have arrested him too but he has taken to his heels and we don’t know where he is but we are looking for him… We will prosecute him if we get him because he condoned and connived and instigated the assault.”
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By Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana