Ejura shooting probe: Ashanti Regional Minister gives his side of the story

The Ashanti Regional Minister, Honourable Simon Osei Mensah has given his side of the story on the Ejura shooting incident.

Following questioning by the three-member committee under the chairmanship of His Lordship Justice George Kingsley Koomson, the Minister who doubles as the chairman of the security council in the Ashanti Region narrated how the troubles unfolded in his absence.

“On 28th June, in the morning I received a call that at dawn of 27 June 2021, one man called Kaaka in Ejura was clup by an unknown person and had been rushed to the Hospital. That very day I travelled to Accra to have a meeting in the evening and the following day; a meeting of all the 16 regional ministers in the country.

The Regional Minister narrated in front of the Committee that whiles he was at AH Hotel in East Legon Accra, he received a call in the evening the same day that the said Kaaka has passed on.

“Later I received several calls from Ejura but because of the demise of Kaaka, some Youth in the town were planning to cause problems in the town and that some of them had gone to the Police Station to cause mayhem.

“I called Lt Kennel Peprah, Commanding Officer four Battalion (4BN) to dispatch some of the key of operation calm life. So they provided security during the night and returned the following day on 29 June 2021. After they have returned, I received another intelligence that the people have decided to go and burn the Police Station, houses in which some two accused persons had been arrested by the Police and also cause damage to other properties in Ejura.

The Chairman of the Security Council in the Ashanti Region disclosed that he requested Lt. Kennel Peprah to again send some personnel to go and support the Police.

“I took this decision in line with the security and Intelligence agents Act (Act 1030) and specifically Section 5 that establishes Regional Security Council, then section 6 that gives the membership of the Regional Security Council.”

“Whiles I was in a meeting of the Regional Minute at a hotel in East Legon Accra, I received unfortunate news that there had been shooting during the maintenance of peace in the ground and two lives have been lost and others injured.

“I also received information that some properties have been destroyed or vandalized. The following day, I have to quickly organize regional Security Council meeting that is on 30 June 2021 where I received briefing on the incident on the ground.

“The meeting was held in Kumasi so we agreed to move to Ejura the following day, the 1 of July 2021 to have firsthand information on the ground. When we got to Ejura we first called on the Police. We were later joined by the Minister for Interior, Hon Andrews Derry, together we went to the Palace of the Ejurahene to meet the chief and elders for briefing. From the Palace, we called on the family of the two who died during the incident and Kaaka,” he told.

Per the directive of the President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo, 10-working days have been employed to finish their work which started on Monday.