Swedruhene denies Police Commander’s allegations
Swedruhene, Nana Kobina Botwe II, on Thursday said that it was not true that because the police had refused to grant his request for 24-hour police protection that was why he called for their mass transfer from the town.
Nana Botwe was addressing a press conference at Agona Swedru in reaction to an allegation made by the Central Regional Police Commander, DCOP Andoh Kwofie at Cape Coast that because the police did not accept his request, he had called for their transfer.
It would be recalled that Nana Botwe addressing a durbar on August 18, 2012, to climax the Annual Akwambo festival attended by some government officials, asked for the mass transfer of Police personnel from Agona Swedru for mingling with Cyber fraudsters, wee and cocaine dealers.
He said since he was installed chief of Swedru in 1968, and “I have never asked for any police protection”.
The chief also denied that he pleaded with the Agona Swedru Police to grant bail to criminals in his capacity as Chief of Agona Swedru as was being claimed by the Police.
“I have rather cooperated with the police to apprehend criminals and I therefore throw a challenge to the police to prove their assertion”. Nana Botwe said.
He further refuted that he refused the establishment of Community Policing in the town, adding that either the Regional Police Commander was misinformed or he did not know what he was talking about.
According to Nana Botwe, Mr Samuel Oppong, Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Agona West and his entourage met Swedruman Council of Chiefs and informed them that 19 “wee” and cocaine centers had been discovered at Agona Swedru alone.
He said the MCE who was chairman of the Municipal Security Council (MUSEC) appealed to the chiefs and elders as custodians of the land to take steps to ensure that the drug centers stopped operating to protect the youth from engaging in drug abuse.
The Swedruhene said it was his criticisms of the Police during the Akwambo Festival that necessitated the police swoop on August 27 this year, where some wee and cocaine smokers were arrest.
He said during the operation the actual drug barons were not arrested but rather some innocent persons were picked up.
Nana Botwe said the Swedruman Council of Chiefs would continue to criticize the police until criminal activities were eliminated from the town to ensure peace and development in the area.
Source: GNA
Civil servants threaten strike next week
The Northern Region branch of the Civil and Local Government Staff Association of Ghana (CLOGSAG) has said the Single Spine Pay Salary Structure (SSPSS) had deepened their woes and rendered them poorer instead of improving their conditions of service.
The Association said the government had refused to pay the premium agreed on by the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission and the leadership of their Association.
Addressing a press conference in Tamale on Thursday Mr Ali Anfo, the Northern Regional Secretary of CLOGSAG, described the nonpayment of their premium as unfair and discriminatory.
He called on the national executives of the Association to re-activate the nationwide strike action that was halted due to the death of President John Atta Mills.
“Now we have finished the burial and politicians have started their campaign forgetting about our issue”, he said.
Mr Anfo said members in the region have resolved to embark on a strike action on September 5, 2012 if steps are not taken by the government to address their concern.
Mr Anfo said as part of the strike a task force would be formed to go round and lock government offices to press home their concern.
Source: GNA