Kpone Youth Give Leaders Ultimatum


The angry youth of Kpone, a fishing community in the Greater Accra Region, who clashed with the police during a protest march a couple of days ago, have given the leaders of the community, including the traditional council, a seven-day ultimatum to address their grievances.

According to them, if the leaders failed to meet their demands – which include evidence of benefits accrued from the sale of lands by the traditional council and the influx of industries in the area, they would be compelled to take another line of action.

Samuel Mensah, youth organiser of the area, said the elders at the traditional council had taken them for granted, deprived them of their resources and ignored the development of the township.

‘We want the industries to leave the area because they have deprived us of our own resources. Our elders do not think of any development plan for the community and the youth,’ he stated.

According to him, ‘We want our grievances addressed with immediate effect; and we have given them one week to effect changes.’

The township, which is near the industrial city of Tema, was calm when DAILY GUIDE paid a visit to the place last Wednesday. Red flags and bands had been tied to electricity poles.

Some of the youth who participated in the demonstration which later turned chaotic, were spotted around the old lorry park dressed in ordinary attires, unlike the day of the protest when they were in red – depicting danger.

Authorities and staff of the Kpone Traditional Council (KTC) who abandoned their work when they sensed danger, were yet to report as the main office entrance was locked with padlocks and red bands tied to the doors and the windows.

The glass louvre blades were not spared during the riot as they had been broken.

Police presence at the community was also very heavy, unlike the day of the demonstration.

The Sunon Asogli Power Plant, which the youth threatened to destroy, was also being guarded by police personnel in armour vehicles.

On the day of the demonstration, a total of 21 people, including seven policemen, were said to have received medical attention at the Kpone Health Centre as a result of the stones that were pelted at them (police) as well as the teargas fired into the crowd.

Two of the injured persons were reported to have been referred to the Tema General Hospital for further treatment whiles the rest were discharged on the same day.

Speaking with DAILY GUIDE, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Juliana Obeng, in-charge of the Tema Regional Police Command, disclosed that her outfit had beefed up security in the community, to forestall any eventuality.

Alhaji Issah Antiaye Tetteh, the District Chief Executive (DCE) of the KKDA who doubles as head of the District Security Council (DISEC), assured DAILY GUIDE that DISEC would be holding an emergency meeting to brainstorm on how best to address the situation

FROM Vincent Kubi, Kpone


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