You will regret attacking my men …IGP warns Ellembelle rioters

Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, Ghana’s Inspector General of Police (IGP), has warned that any person involved in the lawless rioting and vandalism of the Essiama District Police headquarters at Ellembelle in the Western Region last  Friday, 1 April 2022 shall be fished out, investigated and made to face the full rigors of the law to serve as a deterrent to others.

Dr. Dampare, in touring the area hours after the attacks was full of disappointment at the reckless bravado with which the gutsy rioters in broad daylight attacked the District Police headquarters to break the windscreen of two buses and a pickup truck and also vandalize window glasses and louver blades at the station.

He said they would regret their irresponsible actions because the Ghana Police Service would most certainly fish out each and every suspect involved  no matter how long it may take.

The IGP was emphatic that the case would not be treated with kids’ gloves and said he expected residents who saw what happened and know it was wrong to volunteer useful information to the Ghana Police Service.

The entire District Police headquarters could have been completely vandalized if not for the swift response from the officers and men who stood their ground and dispersed the rioters.

“We have come barely 12 hours after the incident, just because of the difficulties of getting here earlier…Other than that, we would have come at the time that the incident was happening and walked with you to deal with it

“But you did your best to de-escalate the situation, and we are seeing a minimum disruption and fatality because of what you did. So, we are here to commend and appreciate you”, he noted.

“It is also to let you know that we will use every means within the law, slow but sure to pick every person who has been involved in this and deal with the person in accordance with the law in a manner that the person would regret being part of such an act for it to send the strongest message to the rest of the people in the community“,  Dr. Dampare noted when he led  members of the Police Management Board and the  Western Regional Police Command to the affected area after the incident.

The IGP with his senior police delegation and the District Chief Executive for Ellembelle, Mr. Kwasi Bonzoh visited the Chief of Essiama Nana Ainoo Kwagyan III over the same matter.

Dr. Dampare noted at the Chief’s Palace that restoring the  damaged reputation of the area would involve the commitment of the traditional leadership and residents.

He said if the community would cooperate with the Ghana Police Service to fish out and deal with the law breakers, it would serve as a good testimonial.

MP Calls For Probe

The Member of Parliament for the Ellembelle, Armarh Kofi- Buah, has condemned the invading of the Essiama Police  headquarters but has called for a probe into what led to the attacks.

Kofi-Buah spoke with Citi News: “Let me be very clear, the people of Teleku-Bokazo and Ahwia and its environs have lived here for over 300 years as farmers on their lands in peace. Since all of a sudden Adamus Resources came saying it has been given all those lands, we have not had any peace. Even when Adamus is done by mining in parts of the concession after 10 years, it refuses to allow even the community to engage in legal mining activity for their daily survival after destroying their farms. Is this fair?”

“And then we will have State soldiers to protect Mining companies who end up shooting citizens. That is the anger. I’m therefore calling on President Akufo-Addo, the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice, CHRAJ and the Police Service to investigate the real issue with the treatment of the people over here by Adamus Resources Limited Mines. We have to have a just and fair investigation into their activities”, he added.