Police storm Bukunor to arrest leaders of Monday’s demo but residents resist
Strong resistance from residents of Bukunor Junction Community, in the Upper Manya Krobo District on Tuesday, compelled a SWAT Team from the Eastern Regional Police Headquarters to abandon any attempt to arrest leaders of a Monday demonstration over pedestrian knockdowns.
The armed police personnel led by the Asesewa District Police Commander, Superintendent Boakye Ansah, stormed the community to arrest community leaders who had closed down the road passing through the community and prevented the police from enforcing the law on Monday.
But the team was forced to leave without any arrest after the many minutes of a standoff with the residents.
“Armed SWAT Police Personnel from Koforidua led by the Asesewa District Police Commander came to the community in the evening around 4 pm to 5 pm
to arrest myself [Assembly Member] and the Chief but the youth resisted them so they left”.
Residents of Bukunor Junction and its surrounding communities in the Upper Manya Krobo District of the Eastern Region hit the streets on Monday December 30, 2019 to protest what they describe as reckless driving by truck drivers driving through their areas.
The truck drivers transport limestone from Asesewa to Tema.
The protest sparked when two persons; Tetteh Micheal,15, and Akwetey Paul-19 died immediately after a truck ran over them.
The two were not the only ones affected by the accident.
Two others; Akorley Amos and Akwetey Peter are also receiving treatment after they suffered life-threatening injuries.
One of the deceased, Akwetey Paul was the twin brother of injured Akwetey Peter.
Drivers of the trucks say they failed their brakes hence the accident.
But the angry residents will not have that excuse.
They have vowed not to allow the mining company to transport their raw materials through the community.
The angry residents blocked the roads in the area to register their displeasure.
An attempt by armed police personnel from Asesewa to get the residents to clear the road rather ended in chaos.
The residents launched an attack on the police after they failed to stop the demonstration.
Assembly Member for the area, Ebenezer Tei North, told Accra based Starr FM they will not allow any of the trucks transporting limestone to pass through the community until they enter a memorandum of understanding.
He also accused the limestone company of insensitivity.
According to him, management of the company has failed to visit the bereaved families to commiserate with them.