Sack North Tongu DCE And Aveyime Police Chief Now –Togbega Patamia Dzekley VII –But The DCE Rufutes Allegations

Paramount Chief of Battor Traditional Area in the North Tongu District of the Volta Region, Togbega Patamia Dzekley VII, has appealled to Inspector General of Police (IGP),Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, Chief of Defence Staff and Chief of Staff, Madam Akosua Frema Osei-Opare to, immediately relieve the Aveyime District Commander, Superintendent George Aboagye and the District Chief Executive (DCE) for North Tongu District Assembly, Mr. Divine Osborn Kwadzo Fenu of their positions for wrong doings.

According to the Togbega Patamia Dzekley VII who doubles as the Vice President of the Volta Regional House of Chiefs, the DCE who is also   the Chairman of North Tongu District Security Committee (DISEC) and the senior law enforcement officer have shown gross incompetence in the North Tongu District that has resulted to the unfortunate loss of five lives of citizens of Battor on Friday December 16, 2022 at Battor township.

18th December, 2022

THE INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE GHANA POLICE SERVICE ACCRA.

 

BAITOR PARAMOUNT CHIEF PETITIONS INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE (IGP)  

We wish to draw your attention to recent developments at Battor-Dugame in the Volta Region of-Ghana which has resulted in the disturbances on Friday, 16th December 2022. 

1.On 18th November 2022, a letter headed "PERFORMANCE OF DZEKLEY STOOL RITES AND OTHER CUSTOMARY RITES" was addressed to the Regional Police Commanderrat Ho by Michael Korsi Hottor (copy of letter attached) 

Our attention was drawn to that letter for which a series of meetings were arranged to resolve the issue.

2. On Saturday 26th November 2022 at about 7:30pm a group of people led by Daniel Hottor and Kennedy Anlesinya entered the Dzekley Palace amid firing of gunshots and war songs. 

The group comprised of persons of the Havor family who reside at Havorkope in the Afram Plains and brought to Battor by Michael Korsi Hottor.

At about 9:00pm we reported the siege to the Police at Aveyime-Battor to come and dispel the trouble makers.

The disturbances continued to about 12:00 midnight when Michael Korsi Hottor arrived in the Dzekley Palace and immediately started destroying the door to the Battor Traditional Council Hall. 

Michael Korsi Hottor was joined by the Asafo group to demolish the doors to the Council Hall and the stool room which was ransacked and extensive damage was done to the Battor Traditional Council Hall. 

The group later slaughtered a ram and performed some rites claiming that Michael Korsj Hottor has destooled the Paramount Chief Togbega Patamia Dzekley VII. 

The attack finally ended about 9:00am on Sunday 27th 2022 when the attackers went away to the residence of Michael Korsi Hottor.

3. The police finally came to the scene late on Sunday by which time the perpetrators had left Battor-Dugame for Havorkope their base in the Afram plains.

4.A formal complaint was lodged with the Police at Aveyime-Battor listing the names of the leaders of the attack which includes the following persons:-

a. Michael Korsi Hottor (Leader)

b. Daniel Hottor

c. Kennedy Anlesinya

d. Vincent Xenya

e. Patrick Avuwada

f. Major (RTD) Samuel Kwao Kuleke

g. Kwasitse Morti aka Zombie

h. Togbe Havor Il

i. Bernard Dzadza

j. Fred Wormenor aka Vome

k. Senafu Amegbanu

l. Agbesi Havor

m. Joshua Havor

n. James Amegbanu

o. Emmanuel Deku

p. Ageh Noamesi

q. Issiah Havor

r. Kofi Dzadey

s. Cudjoe (Michael Hottor's driver)

t. Mawulj Akplobi

u. Amuzu Fenuku

v. John Kwame Menney Bobodzj

w. Tator Akuvie Agama

x. Gago Adrah

y. Kuto Habada

z. Nyamedi Kini aa. Asafo Group from Havorkope in the Afram Plains)

5.We gave our statement to the Police on 29th November 2022 and demanded that the culprits be apprehended to serve as a deterrent to ensure peace in Battor-Dugame but to date no arrests have been made in connection with the 26th and 27th November 2022 attack on the Dzekley Palace.

The Battor Traditional Council Hall and the stool room are still left open because we do not know the state of the investigations to enable us carry out the repairs to the Council Hall and the stool room.

 Activities of the Battor Traditional Council have come to a halt because the building is a crime scene and we do not wish to interfere with any investigations going on.

 We have drawn the attention of the Volta Regional Police Commander to the stalled investigation and demanded the docket be transferred to the Regional Crime Officer to speed up the investigations into case. 

Apart from the programmes of the Traditional Council, the Elders of Kpeli Clan need to perform certain rites to cleanse the Dzekley stool room of the defilement that was carried out during the attack.

6.The recent attack on the Dzekley Palace on Friday 16th December 2022 in which lives were lost could have been prevented. 

The attack was carried out by the same hoodlums from the Afram Plains brought by the same Michael Korsi Hottor and led by the same Kennedy Anlesinya. 

It is important to note that the attackers gathered in Korsi Hottor's residence from morning till the time they made the procession through the town to the Dzekley's Palace amid beating of war drums and openly displaying their weapons to the public.

7.The perpetrators of this heinous crime that claimed six lives and injuries to several people as indicated brought by Michael Korsi Hottor who is the presiding member of the North Tongu District Assembly, who has arrogated to himself the right to destool the Paramount Chief of Battor, an action which flies in the face of the time tested customs and traditions of the people of Battor and the Chieftaincy Act 759 of 2008.

8 Preceding this incident were the attempts by Korsi Hottor to stoke confusion in the Battor Traditional Area by moving from one media house to another claiming he had destooled the Paramount Chief. 

The Battor Traditional Council was expecting the District Security Council (DISEC) led by Hon. Osborn Divine Fenu (District Chief Executive of North Tongu District) and the District Commander of Police could have called him to order since his conduct had the propensity to disturb the peace in Battor.

9.The kingmakers and elders of the Dzekley stool do not think that they should follow him with press releases hence our silence to date. 

We wish to appeal to IGP, Chief of Defence Staff, Minister of Interior, Peace Council and the Volta Region House of Chiefs to restrain Michael Korsi Hottor and his hoodlums from unleashing further terror on the people of Battor so that the needed peace and order will prevail.

10. We wish to appeal to the IGP and the CHIEF OF Staff to relieve both the District Commander Superintendent George Aboagye and the DCE of their positions as they have shown gross incompetence in the North Tongu District that has resulted in this unfortunate loss of lives.

TOGBEGA PATAMIA DZEKLEY Vll

PARAMOUNT CHIEF OF BATTOR TRADITIONAL AREA

The DCE Brief Reaction

When contacted for his reaction, the DCE expressed his worry over the lost of lives of the people at Battor and sympathised with the families of the victims.

But he was quick to state that he finds it extremely difficult to understand why the Paramount of Battor Traditional Area and his followers are apportion blame to him and the senior police officer for the incident which has happened at Battor township on that fateful date.

"I have made it clear to the two parties at the DISEC meeting that they should stop tagging me to their chieftaincy dispute because l don't have interest in their issues. I told them that we are only concerns of the security of the people in Battor Traditional Area.