Mr. John Allotey – CEO of Forestry Commission
Some thugs purporting to be working for the Forestry Commission within the Tarkwa Nsuaem Constituency, in the Western region have shot and killed a man in his mid-forties without provocation.
The Forestry has also admitted that the incident happened during their joint operation with the thugs and the matter has since been reported to the police for investigation.
Municipal Chief Executive of Tarkwa Municipality, Benjamin Kessie, who corroborated the incident to the New Crusading GUIDE, said his outfit got information three days ago that someone had been shot and killed around Papaho Community near the Nuong Forest where a mining company called Capsor claims to have its concession.
He said, this Capsor mining company had written to the Forestry Commission requesting to bring on their own private security to augment the work of the forestry guards which was unfortunately granted by the forestry.
Hon. Kessie stated that these unregistered and unrecognized armed personnel have been going on random shooting spree just to scare the community folks away, knowing very well that the town folk have their farm lands around the same area.
During one such shooting spree, he recounted, the supposed security men severely injured one community folk three months ago and he is currently still receiving treating at the hospital.
The MCE lamented that “this had become a security threat to the locals so they reported the matter to us at the Municipal Security Council and we held a meeting arriving at the conclusion that these guys are no private security but gun wielding thugs.”
The MCE stated further that they reported the matter to the police to chase these guys out of town but with the endorsement and support of the thugs allegedly by the Chief Executive of Forestry Mr. John Allotey, the police were unable to exercise their mandate only for “us to wake up to the realization that these thugs have actually shot and killed a man in his mid-forties couple of days ago.”
Benjamin Kessie during the interview with this paper stated emphatically that these thugs cannot continue to maim and kill innocent indigenes within the community, therefore, they must be flushed out immediately.
He added saying, “We are by your kind courtesy using your medium to reach out to the relevant ministry and agencies in charge to do the needful and we will be following up with official letters too to ensure these guys are flushed out of our communities and those who must be prosecuted to face the law.”
Meanwhile, there are other information that suggests that these thugs have been strategically sent there simply to cause trouble and disturb the constituency so as to whittle down the electoral fortunes of the sitting Member of Parliament.
Stay tune!
