Ejura unrest: MCE withdraws application for reappointment
The Municipal Chief Executive for Ejura, Mohammed Salisu Bamba, has rescinded his decision to seek a second term due to the recent chaos in the area leading to three deaths.
“I write to withdraw my application for the position of Municipal Chief Executive of Ejura/Sekyedumase Municipality. I arrived at this decision for the peace of the Municipality and the general unity and growth of the New Patriotic Party,” he said in a statement.
Bamba further expressed his appreciation to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for the opportunity to serve.
“I have always worked in service of my party and country, and it is in that spirit that I am withdrawing myself from consideration. I will like to firmly assure the people of the Municipality, my party members, and the general public that I will continue to work for the general good of the municipality, my party, and the country,” he added.
He later died from the wounds, which sparked anger and protesting, resulting in two deaths and several injuries after a clash with law enforcement agencies.
So far, two persons have been arrested in relation to the murder of Kaaka.
Earlier, the MCE denied reports that the two persons arrested in connection with the murder were his bodyguards.
Appearing before the three-member committee tasked to probe the killings in Ejura on Thursday, July 8, 2021, the MCE said he was not in town when the clash between the youth and security forces happened.
“I got to Mampong when I had a call that I shouldn’t come to Ejura for security reasons”.
The incidents that occurred have given Bamba second thoughts about seeking another term in office.
Background
Kaaka was rushed to the Ejura Government Hospital, from where he was referred to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital around midday on Monday, June 28, 2021, but died on admission.
The youth of Ejura were stopped from demonstrating after news broke of Kaaka’s death.
However, they protested at a later date on Tuesday, June 29, 2021, while returning from the cemetery after burying Kaaka.
Consequently, the situation degenerated into chaos resulting in a clash with a joint military and police team.
Two people, Abdul Nasir Yussif and Murtala Mohammed, were shot dead.
A three-member Ministerial Committee was constituted by the Minister for the Interior, Mr Ambrose Dery. to probe the disturbances in Ejura.
The committee, chaired by a Justice of the Court of Appeal, Justice George Kingsley Koomson, was initially given 10 days to present its report but subsequently extended by a week.
Other committee members are Dr Vladimir Antwi-Danso, a Security Expert, and Ms Juliet Amoah, the Executive Director of Penplusbytes, a not-for-profit organization for good governance and the promotion of new media.
A Principal State Attorney, Ms Marie-Louise Simmons, is the Secretary.
Mandate
Mr Dery announced the committee at Ejura during a courtesy call on the Ejuramanhene, Barima Osei Hwedie II, to commiserate with him on the death of three of his subjects within the week.
The minister said the committee was to investigate the incident and make recommendations to forestall a recurrence in Ejura or elsewhere in the country.
He said the committee was made up of trusted people and expressed the belief that they would make appropriate recommendations after a thorough investigation of last Tuesday’s unfortunate incident.
“This committee, I believe, is a committee of prominent personalities of this country, trusted; I believe that within the 10 days given, ending July 9, 2021, the unfortunate circumstances will be investigated and appropriate recommendations made,” he said.