Drobo (B/A) Oct. 21, GNA -The Brong-Ahafo
Regional Security Council (REGSEC) on Friday went on peace mission to Japekrom
and Drobo, in the Jaman South Municipality to assess the situation on the
ground after a renewed clash between the two neighbouring towns.
The clash claimed two lives, Wofa Atta Sina,
Mmranteehene (youth leader) and one Emmanuel, all natives of Japekrom whilst
15 victims who sustained gunshot wounds
are on admission at the Sampa Government Hospital responding to treatment.
Economic activities in both towns, as observed
by the members of REGSEC and the accompanied media personnel had come to a
standstill because the main car station and the market were empty, whilst
banks, shops, schools in the area and the St. Mary’s Catholic Hospital (at
Drobo) were all closed.
Some people were ready at the transport
terminal at Drobo with their bags and luggage to travel out but were stranded
because there were no vehicular movements and some residents of both towns
stood in groups discussing the incident.
Mr. Evans Opoku-Bobie, the Regional Minister
designate and Chairman of the REGSEC advised
the chiefs and the people of both towns at separate meetings to remain
calm and cooperate with the combined
team of Police-Military deployed in the area
to maintain peace and order.
He urged the people to comply with the curfew
order imposed on them, saying that refusal to obey it was an offence and anyone
caught in that regard accordingly be accordingly be could be arrested and
prosecuted.
Mr Opoku-Bobie said the situation would be
reviewed from time to time and assured that the curfew order might soon be
reverted for routine activities to return to normalcy if peace prevailed in the
area.
He gave the assurance that the Police had
started thorough investigation and would do everything possible to arrest the
perpetrators and prosecute them accordingly.
Mr. Opoku-Bobie admitted that the situation
was very worrying, and noted that festival portrays the beauty of African
culture and also brings investors as well as citizens living abroad to invest
in the development of an area.
He appealed to workers who left for safety as
a result of the incident to return to work because the Police-Military
peace-keeping team were capable of controlling the situation to protect lives
and properties.
Okatakyie Atura Konkonkyia II, Paramount Chief
of Japekrom and Okokyeredom Sakyi Ako II, Paramount Chief of Drobo respectively
expressed gratitude to the Mr. Opoku-Bobie and his entourage for the expression
of sympathy and gave the assurance to smoke peace pipe to ensure total calmness
in the area.
The Regional Minister designate also visited
the St. Mary’s Hospital and Drobo Senior High School to encourage the few
workers and students around to remain calm for their colleagues who left to
return for the resumption of work and studies respectively.
Mr. Opoku-Bobie afterwards went to the two
local FM radio stations, one at each of the two towns and appealed to the
people to remain calm and avoid provocations, incitements and allegations
towards each other to prevent renewal of clashes.
GNA