Dome Faase residents want compensation after ‘soldiers destroyed properties’
Some residents of Dome Faase whose properties were reportedly destroyed by military personnel have called for compensation from the government.
Hundreds of military men stormed the area after two of their officers were brutally assaulted by residents over a land dispute.
The military who were armed to the teeth were in the area to arrest perpetrators of the brutal attack on their men and also search for firearms which were allegedly seized from the assaulted officers.
The two were beaten to a pulp by the community members over a land dispute.
The Deputy Minister of Defence, Major (RTD) Derek Oduro justified the heavy military presence in the area after the assault on the uniformed men.
He also justified the use of force by the military men in the town.
“Some two [soldiers] were almost killed. Some people almost lost their lives, and you go in there and kneel down before the perpetrators and say I beg you come, I want to find out whether you’re part?
“They go there, and they know who is to be arrested. They have arrested a number of people. They didn’t go there to go and kneel down in front of the perpetrators. No! They move in with force to go and arrest criminals. So you don’t expect that people who have gone there to effect arrest will go the way you think they should,” he said in an earlier interview with Starr FM.
But barely two weeks after the military left the town, some residents say they must be compensated after alleging military destruction of their properties which run into thousands of cedis.
“When I got back to the town, I realised my air-conditioner was destroyed. My room was also broken into, and my laptop was taken. I am a teacher, and it is actually someone’s laptop I was working on to put some installations on. So I think the government has to step in to cater for the lost items,” a resident told Accra-based Citi FM.
Business activities in the area have still not picked up after the military invaded the town.
Some okada riders in the area say they have been kicked out of business after their motorbikes were seized.
Assemblyman for the Paanor electoral area in Dome Faase, Vincent Sogah believes compensation is needed to put the issue to rest.
“We are pleading with the government because some of them need compensation because they are not able to work because of their properties have been destroyed,” he said.
Chief begs for forgiveness
The Mankralo of the Obom traditional area, Nii Addo has apologized on behalf of the residents over the assault on two soldiers.
The residents, mostly the youth, fled the town to seek cover elsewhere over fears of possible reprisal.
Speaking on Accra-based Peace FM, the Chief, Nii Addo, begged the Military High Command and the Chief of Defence Staff to tamper justice with mercy.
“We shouldn’t have burnt vehicles belonging to the military. We shouldn’t have assaulted the soldiers. We could’ve dealt with the issue in a better way rather than violence. I don’t endorse the actions of the youth in my area.
“But I’m on my knees begging for forgiveness. Please forgive us,” he said in a sober tone while speaking Twi, a local Ghanaian language.
He revealed that the entire Dome Faase township had been deserted.
Nii Addo said almost all the residents, including himself, had escaped to other parts of the country for fear of their lives.
“It is very true, many people have absconded. Even I am in hiding. You can’t find me if you look for me. I’m afraid of the military. They don’t know if you’re a child or an adult. We can only appeal to President Akufo-Addo to intervene.”
Responding to reports that the military was in the area to retrieve two guns which the residents seized from the assaulted soldiers, the Chief expressed his readiness to come out of his hiding place and assist the search for the ammunition only if he will be given protection.