Ashanti Regional Minister justifies deployment of military personnel in Ejura
The Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei Mensah, says intelligence received by the Ashanti Regional Security Council (REGSEC) forced him to deploy the military and police personnel to the town.
He said the intel he had pointed to threats by the youth of Ejura to burn state and private properties after the burial of social activist, Mohammed Ibrahim, also known as Kaaka.
The Minister told the three-member committee, tasked to investigate circumstances leading to the shooting of death of two protesting youth at Ejura last week that the law establishing the Security Council grants him such powers.
The Committee chaired by an Appeals Court judge, Justice George Kingsley Koomson will receive evidence from witnesses to ascertain the cause of the violence and make recommendations to the President.
Simon Osei Mensah who was the first witness told the Committee, the deployment was to maintain law and order.
“I received intelligence that the youth planned to destroy the Ejura Police station and a house belonging to two suspects arrested in connection with the death of Kaaka.
“So based on this information, I ordered the police and military to go to the town and maintain law and order and I did so as chairman of the Regional Security Council because the law grants me that power,” he told the Committee.
Mr Osei Mensah also said the security agencies were pelted with stones and other missiles forcing them to respond to the protesters, some of whom sustained serious injuries.
He is, however, unable to tell who fired the shots.
“The initial plan was to go there and ensure maintenance of law and order but whiles returning from the cemetery after the burial of Kaaka, the youth started attacking the police water cannon vehicle and I have a video to back this…indeed the professionalism of the police water cannon vehicle driver prevented what could have been a run over the protestant (sic), at this stage, the military stepped in and the firing started but I’m unable to tell who fired the shot,” Osei Mensah added.
Source: Myjoyonline.com
