Chairman of Parliament’s Defence and Interior Committee, James Agalga, is calling for a thorough investigation into the violent clashes between groups from Gomoa and Effutu at New Winneba in the Central Region.
The clashes, which occurred on Tuesday, September 1, left three people dead and 17 others injured, including a police officer stationed at the New Winneba Police Station.
According to the police, about 300 people armed with guns, stones, cutlasses and sticks from Gomoa Oguakrom, Gomoa Yenkuadze and Gomoa Pomadze stormed New Winneba Township at about 10:40 a.m. and attacked residents, vandalising shops, stores and other properties.
The violence has been linked to a long-standing land dispute over the ownership of New Winneba.
Mr Agalga is demanding that anyone found to have illegally possessed firearms during the incident be identified and prosecuted.
His call comes as the police confirm the arrest of six suspects in connection with the violence. They are Kweku Kakraba, 52; Arko Thomas, 19; Samuel Tulasi, 19; Samuel Gyasi, 22; Emmanuel Okyere, 22; and Seth Osei, 22.
The police say a locally manufactured single-barrel gun and an empty AAA cartridge were retrieved from the scene.
Meanwhile, the Effutu Municipal and Gomoa Central District Assemblies have agreed to settle the medical bills of the injured victims. Most of the injured sustained gunshot wounds and are receiving treatment at the Trauma and Specialist Hospital in Winneba.
Security has since been reinforced in the area, with personnel from Winneba, Agona Swedru and Mankessim, as well as a special team from the Inspector-General of Police’s office, deployed to the area. The deployment includes two armoured vehicles.
Six snap checkpoints have also been mounted to prevent possible reprisal attacks and maintain peace in the affected communities.
Story by Ama Frimpomaa