The Eastern Regional Security Council (REGSEC) has commenced investigation into the death of two persons and the attendant injuries to five others at the Adoagyiri community in the Nsawam/Adoagyiri Municipality of the Eastern Region, following a chieftaincy dispute-related gun attack.
The Regional Minister, Seth Acheampong, who is the chairman of the RESCEC after an emergency meeting held in Koforidua on Wednesday 30th August 2023 assured the public that it would continue to work with the various security agencies to ensure peace and tranquillity in the area.
Currently, Police from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service are patrolling the community to search for the masterminds behind the shooting incident.
The incident occurred after gun-wielding men and occupants of the Okyeman Land Protection Taskforce, escorting a convoy of rival chiefs enstooled recently by Akyem Abuakwa traditional council and sworn in last Tuesday at Kyebi, allegedly stormed the Adoagyiri community amid sporadic gunshots, leading to the death incidents belonging to the opposing faction.
In that process, one member of the Okyeman task force was gunned down, as two others sustained gunshot injuries and were rushed to the Nsawam Government Hospital by police deployed to the community.
The situation is creating fear and panic among the residents as some have been reported to flee since last night, due to the heavy presence of the Police officers deployed to the community.
However, the minister in a statement said “Under Section 1 of the Public Order Act, 1994 (Act 491) which deals with the Notification to the Police on Special Events, REGSEC draws the attention of the general public to subsections (1 )(2)(3)(4) and (5) of the said section of this Act and wishes to advise the populace within the Region and Nsawam Adoagyiri in particular of the implications of flouting this law.”
According to the RESEC, any person who desires to hold any special event within the meaning of this Act in any public place shall notify the police of his intention not less than 5 days before the date of the special event.
“The notification shall be in writing and signed by or on behalf of the organisers of the special event and shall specify- (a) the place and hour of the special event, (b) the nature of the special event; (c) the time of commencement; (d) the proposed route and destination, if any; and (e) proposed time of closure of the event”, the statement read.
It further added that “The notification shall be submitted to a police officer not below the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police or other police officer responsible for the nearest police station to the location of the proposed special event.”
The RESEC further noted that “Where a police officer notified of a special event under subsection (1) has reasonable grounds to believe that the special event if held may lead to violence or endanger public 3 defence, public order, public safety, public health or the running of essential services or violate the rights and freedoms of other persons, he may request the organizers to postpone the special event to any other date or the relocate the special event.
“An organizer requested under subsection (4) to postpone or relocate the holding of a special event shall within forty-eight hours of the request, notify the police officer in writing of his willingness to comply. Additionally, the general public is advised to abide by the provisions
of Sections 7 and 11 (l) (e) of the Arms and Ammunitions Act 1972 (NRCD 9) which deals with the Control of public display of arms and ammunitions and Possession of arms or ammunitions without authority respectively and abide by same.
It added that “Special events within the meaning of the Public Order Act, (ACT 49 l) include procession, parade, carnival, street dance celebration of traditional custom, outdooring of traditional ruler.”
