Nkwantanang is peaceful -Police Commander
The Eastern Regional Police Command has described as false reports that Nkwantanang, a town near Kade in the Akyem Abuakwa paramountcy, was last Thursday engulfed in mayhem due to a chieftaincy dispute.
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The story, which was aired the same day (January 2), indicated that a lot of people sustained injuries while the queenmother, Nana Abena Frempoma, fled the town.
The Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP), Mr Akuriba Yaagy, and his deputy, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Mr James Abass Abaa, expressed disgust at the report, which, according to them, had caused fear and panic in the area.
They, therefore, cautioned the media, especially the private radio stations, to desist from such acts.
According to them, some journalists in the region, especially those working for private radio stations, “go to town” with any information, especially security issues, without cross-checking with the police, and added that it was time owners of the private radio stations and the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), sanctioned reporters who engaged in unprofessional conduct.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic in Koforidua yesterday, Mr Yaagy said when he heard the story on one of the private radio stations, he immediately ordered the Kade District Police Commander, Superintendent of Police, Mr Stephen Delaporte, to deploy policemen to the scene.
“It turned out to be false when our men got there; the place was peaceful but we have some men still there for any eventuality,” he said.
Throwing light on the issue, Mr Delaporte said what was perceived to be mayhem was the destruction of a vehicle windscreen by someone believed to belong to a faction in a long-standing chieftaincy dispute at Nkwantanang, which the police are currently investigating.
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Giving further details, he said on December 27, 2013 at 6 p. m. he heard on Oman FM that judgement on the long-standing Nkwantanang chieftaincy dispute had been given, declaring the chief of the town, Barima Omane II, destooled.
He said on December 31, 2013 at 3 p.m., the Abusuapanyin, Nana Adansi Ewusi, the queenmother and two others reported to his outfit that when they were returning from Kyebi, where they had installed a new chief for Nkwantanang, Nana Gyan II, somebody destroyed the windscreen of the vehicle that brought them.
Mr Delaporte said the police, after listening to the complaint, pointed out to them that because they had not informed the police about the installation of Nana Gyan, which was in contravention of the Public Order Act, they would also be dealt with.
“We are currently investigating both cases and we shall deal with the issues in accordance with the law,” he said.
He added that nobody fought at Nkwantanang, was injured or had run away from the town, which had been peaceful throughout the Christmas and New Year celebrations.