Lower Manya Krobo unrest: One dead, 35 arrested as police call for calm
Police have made 35 arrests following four days of unrest in the Lower Manya Krobo Municipality over a disconnection exercise being carried out by Power Distribution Service (PDS).
Currently, 100 police personnel drawn from the National Formed Police Unit in Accra, Rapid Deployment Force and the Counter Terrorism Unit together with men from the Eastern Regional Command are carrying out patrols in the Lower Manya Krobo Municipality using anti-riot equipment.
One person has been confirmed dead following a clash when residents attacked police team providing protection to the Municipal Assembly Office on Wednesday afternoon.Some residents from Nuaso, Kpongunor, Mmaadaam, Abanze, Agormanor, Agormanya, Krobo Odumase Mampong, Korle Tsom had pinned down police at the Municipal assembly office and started pelting stones.
Police, in turn, fired warning shots though it remains unclear what the cause of death is.
A police officer with the Eastern Regional Police command lost one of his right toes following the clash.
DSP Ebenezer Tetteh, the Eastern Regional Police Public Relations Officer in an interview with Citi News indicated that the police will enforce all necessary measures for law and order to prevail.
At the moment he said “the situation has improved dramatically” and “things are a bit calm.”
He, however, indicated that a curfew may be considered as the attacks still persist.
“When it gets to the point where curfew should be imposed, that is going to be done but it is the sole decision that will be taken by the Regional Security Council.”
“For now, I don’t think we have gotten to that road yet but when we get to the bridge, we are going to cross it,” DSP Tetteh said.
He condemned the actions of the angry residents and urged them to see reason.
“Their action is bringing untold hardship to road users. Some of the things they are doing is creating anxiety among persons who are using this particular stretch to other places to Odumase so we will ensure that they don’t take the law into their own hands.”
PDS on Monday suspended an ongoing disconnection exercise at Kpongunor after the agitations begun in response to the mass disconnection exercise.
The agitated residents mounted roadblocks and threatened to attack staff of PDS.