Story: Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu, Sekondi
Nurses residing at the nurses’ quarters near the GBC office and those on night shift are never safe until they arrive at their workplace at the Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital in Sekondi.
This is because there are no street lights along the road from their residence to the hospital. They have to make it to their workplace in darkness.
Those on night duty therefore have to seek the assistance of those not on duty to escort them to the hospital. They have complained that some of their colleagues were attacked on many occasions by thieves who made away with their belongings.
This came to light when this reporter drove through the quarters to the hospital at night. The road was in total darkness and the nurses who are mainly young ladies have become the targets of social deviants.
During the visit this reporter saw three nurses who were walking with their hand bags under their armpits and trying to avoid the social miscreants by moving quickly to the road when they saw the light of the vehicle.
They said they were scared and went into hiding when “we saw a man running in our direction in the darkness only to move out when the road was clear”.
Unfortunately, the location of their quarters is quite a distance from the main road and the hospital. Therefore, commercial vehicles and taxis refuse to ply that route.
“If you are on duty, you have to wait for your friends to finish whatever they are doing and then escort you to the hospital premises,” they lamented.
There were no lights on the premises of the health facility and the whole area was very dark. The only lights seen were the flashes of light from headlights of vehicles or lights from residents living around the hospital.
Provision has been made for street lights in the area, but there are no bulbs and the lamp holders are very old, some of them even without wires.
The nurses said when the nation suffered from the energy crisis the situation was understandable but expected that after the crisis something would be done to ensure that the street lights were restored to provide some security for them.
The fear of the nurses aside, some residents also condemned the insecurity the darkness had exposed them to, and urged the authorities to provide street lights in the area to save life and property.
When contacted, the Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital Administrator, Mr Micah Bediako, described the situation as unfortunate and that the hospital had provided bulbs and connected light to the area on many occasions.
“But the sad aspect is that when you provide the facility, at night, some unscrupulous members of society go there and remove the wires and the bulbs,” he said.
He added that even though they needed street lights along the main road from Fijai Junction to the emergency unit up through Nkontompo to the hospital, it was a capital-intensive project, which the hospital could not undertake alone and urged the metropolitan authorities to live up to their responsibilities.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
NIGERIAN, IVORIAN COOKS INVADE ESSIPON ......Centre Page
Story: Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu, Sekondi
Traditional caterers from Nigeria and Cote d’Ivoire are trooping to Essipon, one of the venues of the Ghana 2008 tournament, where the national teams of the two countries will be playing.
The caterers are trying to secure space to operate eating places for the many supporters expected to turn up.
Gari and yam, the main meals of the two countries, are expected to be on high demand for the period of the tournament and the caterers from both countries have approached developers at Essipon to partner them or provide them with space to serve food.
The Nigerians and Ivorians say they will be serving “Eba and Ogbono” soup, as well as “Attieke” and other traditional dishes. Some Ghanaian caterers have also indicated that they will serve a variety of local and international dishes in addition to operating drinking spots, clubs and other recreational centres.
It is estimated that about 30,000 and 24,000 supporters from Nigeria and Cote d’Ivoire, respectively will be in the metropolis to support their national teams.
Apart from food, the prices of parcels of land have already sky-rocketed because of the tournament.
Land prices have risen by about 60 per cent, compared to what they were before the stadium was built, and indications are that as demand keeps rising, so will prices.
Interestingly, the traditional diet of the Ivorians is similar to that of Ghanaians, that is, mainly grains and tubers. But those looking for the space to serve customers will include on their menu the popular “Attieke” (grated cassava), which is an Ivorian desert.
The Ivorians will mount open-air restaurants which are normally referred to as Maquis.
Additionally, one of the biggest hotels in the Shama Ahanta East metropolis, the Raybow Hotel, is also creating a complete village for the teeming Nigerian supporters to be served with the popular ‘Gari and Ogbono’ soup.
At the moment, a team from the hotel has left Takoradi for Nigeria to buy a container full of ingredients that will last for the period.
According to Mr S.K. Liemuoh, the owner of the Stadium View Spot, a drinking bar located at the junction of the stadium, he had been approached by the caterers for the use a space near his drinking spot.
“I am at the moment preparing the place for them. They are coming in their numbers. They said they just wanted to mount their tents and serve their supporters,” he said.
He said his spot would also be serving all kinds of Ghanaian traditional food, such as tuo zafi, fufu, akple and fetri detsi.
The Manager of the Raybow Hotel, Mr Anthony K. Addiaba, said the management was creating a complete village where people from Nigeria, Cote d’Ivoire and other countries could come and have the feel of the traditional foods of their countries.
Mr Addiaba said he had provided a place for football teams and officials where they could be safe and comfortable and enjoy traditional dishes, while some residents took care of the supporters.
As a result of the dominance of the major sponsor, MTN, at the community, other corporate bodies who want their presence to be felt are feverishly painting various drinking spots and food joints and other structures in their colours.
A few years ago, Essipon was a place where most people would not stay or work, especially when the Inchaban-Sekondi road deteriorated to such an extent that people going from Sekondi to Inchaban or Essipon had to make a detour through Takoradi or Effia Kuma.
With the construction of the road and a completely new stadium, and the tournament only 37 days away, Essipon is now a complete “city” in the making. There are superstructures that could be comparable to others in Takoradi.
The Chief of the town, Nana Kofi Abuna V, one of the few female chiefs in the country, says anyone interested in development activities could approach the elders for a partnership to develop the community, adding, “We are ready for the visitors and investors. Let them come.”
Traditional caterers from Nigeria and Cote d’Ivoire are trooping to Essipon, one of the venues of the Ghana 2008 tournament, where the national teams of the two countries will be playing.
The caterers are trying to secure space to operate eating places for the many supporters expected to turn up.
Gari and yam, the main meals of the two countries, are expected to be on high demand for the period of the tournament and the caterers from both countries have approached developers at Essipon to partner them or provide them with space to serve food.
The Nigerians and Ivorians say they will be serving “Eba and Ogbono” soup, as well as “Attieke” and other traditional dishes. Some Ghanaian caterers have also indicated that they will serve a variety of local and international dishes in addition to operating drinking spots, clubs and other recreational centres.
It is estimated that about 30,000 and 24,000 supporters from Nigeria and Cote d’Ivoire, respectively will be in the metropolis to support their national teams.
Apart from food, the prices of parcels of land have already sky-rocketed because of the tournament.
Land prices have risen by about 60 per cent, compared to what they were before the stadium was built, and indications are that as demand keeps rising, so will prices.
Interestingly, the traditional diet of the Ivorians is similar to that of Ghanaians, that is, mainly grains and tubers. But those looking for the space to serve customers will include on their menu the popular “Attieke” (grated cassava), which is an Ivorian desert.
The Ivorians will mount open-air restaurants which are normally referred to as Maquis.
Additionally, one of the biggest hotels in the Shama Ahanta East metropolis, the Raybow Hotel, is also creating a complete village for the teeming Nigerian supporters to be served with the popular ‘Gari and Ogbono’ soup.
At the moment, a team from the hotel has left Takoradi for Nigeria to buy a container full of ingredients that will last for the period.
According to Mr S.K. Liemuoh, the owner of the Stadium View Spot, a drinking bar located at the junction of the stadium, he had been approached by the caterers for the use a space near his drinking spot.
“I am at the moment preparing the place for them. They are coming in their numbers. They said they just wanted to mount their tents and serve their supporters,” he said.
He said his spot would also be serving all kinds of Ghanaian traditional food, such as tuo zafi, fufu, akple and fetri detsi.
The Manager of the Raybow Hotel, Mr Anthony K. Addiaba, said the management was creating a complete village where people from Nigeria, Cote d’Ivoire and other countries could come and have the feel of the traditional foods of their countries.
Mr Addiaba said he had provided a place for football teams and officials where they could be safe and comfortable and enjoy traditional dishes, while some residents took care of the supporters.
As a result of the dominance of the major sponsor, MTN, at the community, other corporate bodies who want their presence to be felt are feverishly painting various drinking spots and food joints and other structures in their colours.
A few years ago, Essipon was a place where most people would not stay or work, especially when the Inchaban-Sekondi road deteriorated to such an extent that people going from Sekondi to Inchaban or Essipon had to make a detour through Takoradi or Effia Kuma.
With the construction of the road and a completely new stadium, and the tournament only 37 days away, Essipon is now a complete “city” in the making. There are superstructures that could be comparable to others in Takoradi.
The Chief of the town, Nana Kofi Abuna V, one of the few female chiefs in the country, says anyone interested in development activities could approach the elders for a partnership to develop the community, adding, “We are ready for the visitors and investors. Let them come.”
Friday, December 7, 2007
MURDER OVER PHONE ....Odikro, 3 others arrested (1b)
Story: Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu, Sekondi
THE plot by the Odikro of a farming community in the Jomoro District of the Western Region and four others to divert attention after allegedly shooting a 25-year-old man in the bush has been uncovered.
The Odikro and his alleged accomplices have been arrested and put behind bars.
John Kofi Baah, the Odikro of Mile Two, Tamor Tanoe, Awuku Kaku, alias Santana, Ebusuapenyin Peter Ekuma and Kwabena Baah, the Tufohene of the village, were said to have shot and killed the deceased, who is yet to be identified.
They reportedly dumped the body by the roadside and went home.
The day after the suspects had dumped the body by the roadside, a passer-by chanced upon it and went to the Odikro’s house to report the matter to him. Pretending that he knew nothing about the act, the Odikro went to the police to report.
Unknown to the Odikro and the others, however, some people in the community had seen them chasing the young man with a gun into the bush the day before.
The police, upon a tip-off by those who had seen the suspects chasing the deceased, arrested the five.
In their statements to the police, the suspects confessed that upon suspicion that the young man had stolen a mobile phone belonging to Tanoe, they chased and shot him at the outskirts of the settlement.
They told the police that after killing him, they hid the body in the bush and at 12 midnight they dumped it at the roadside to create the impression that the deceased was an armed robber.
According to the Western Regional Crime Officer, Mr D. Abade, the body of the deceased has since been deposited at the Half-Assini Government Hospital.
THE plot by the Odikro of a farming community in the Jomoro District of the Western Region and four others to divert attention after allegedly shooting a 25-year-old man in the bush has been uncovered.
The Odikro and his alleged accomplices have been arrested and put behind bars.
John Kofi Baah, the Odikro of Mile Two, Tamor Tanoe, Awuku Kaku, alias Santana, Ebusuapenyin Peter Ekuma and Kwabena Baah, the Tufohene of the village, were said to have shot and killed the deceased, who is yet to be identified.
They reportedly dumped the body by the roadside and went home.
The day after the suspects had dumped the body by the roadside, a passer-by chanced upon it and went to the Odikro’s house to report the matter to him. Pretending that he knew nothing about the act, the Odikro went to the police to report.
Unknown to the Odikro and the others, however, some people in the community had seen them chasing the young man with a gun into the bush the day before.
The police, upon a tip-off by those who had seen the suspects chasing the deceased, arrested the five.
In their statements to the police, the suspects confessed that upon suspicion that the young man had stolen a mobile phone belonging to Tanoe, they chased and shot him at the outskirts of the settlement.
They told the police that after killing him, they hid the body in the bush and at 12 midnight they dumped it at the roadside to create the impression that the deceased was an armed robber.
According to the Western Regional Crime Officer, Mr D. Abade, the body of the deceased has since been deposited at the Half-Assini Government Hospital.
Thursday, December 6, 2007
POLICE BARRACKS CRY FOR HELP..... (PAGE 25)
STORY: Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu, Takoradi
THE infrastructural facilities of most police barracks in the Shama Ahanta East metropolitan area are in a deplorable state.
Some of the barracks visited by this reporter showed that the occupants did not have adequate bathhouses, while some of the buildings had developed cracks.
Despite efforts by the Sekondi Regional Police Command to improve these facilities, some of the barracks do not have adequate bathhouses, and that has compelled old, young, male and female tenants to share the same mass bathhouse. They also do not have adequate kitchen facilities.
The structure that is being used as a bathhouse in one of the barracks is a large open building that does not give privacy to users of the facility. They make use of a KVIP public place of convenience .
At Effiekuma, the structures are weak and pose a danger to occupants.
While tenants at Sekondi barracks have a big place for their use as a mass bathhouse, those at the Effiakuma barracks have small wooden structures located behind their buildings for that purpose.
According to some of the tenants, the structures at Effiakuma frequently collapse during rainy seasons, and the occupants who are mostly junior officers, have to look for money to do repair works on them.
The officers said they had no other option than to stay in the buildings.
They complained that during the last rainy season, many buildings collapsed and others developed deep cracks, rendering them not fit for habitation.
At the barracks called the Reserve or the Mobile Force Unit, the structures have multiple cracks and look weak. The buildings have not been painted for many years.
Apart from the cracks on the main structure, the roofs also leak.
The occupants have therefore appealed to the authorities to renovate the barracks to make them safe and comfortable.
THE infrastructural facilities of most police barracks in the Shama Ahanta East metropolitan area are in a deplorable state.
Some of the barracks visited by this reporter showed that the occupants did not have adequate bathhouses, while some of the buildings had developed cracks.
Despite efforts by the Sekondi Regional Police Command to improve these facilities, some of the barracks do not have adequate bathhouses, and that has compelled old, young, male and female tenants to share the same mass bathhouse. They also do not have adequate kitchen facilities.
The structure that is being used as a bathhouse in one of the barracks is a large open building that does not give privacy to users of the facility. They make use of a KVIP public place of convenience .
At Effiekuma, the structures are weak and pose a danger to occupants.
While tenants at Sekondi barracks have a big place for their use as a mass bathhouse, those at the Effiakuma barracks have small wooden structures located behind their buildings for that purpose.
According to some of the tenants, the structures at Effiakuma frequently collapse during rainy seasons, and the occupants who are mostly junior officers, have to look for money to do repair works on them.
The officers said they had no other option than to stay in the buildings.
They complained that during the last rainy season, many buildings collapsed and others developed deep cracks, rendering them not fit for habitation.
At the barracks called the Reserve or the Mobile Force Unit, the structures have multiple cracks and look weak. The buildings have not been painted for many years.
Apart from the cracks on the main structure, the roofs also leak.
The occupants have therefore appealed to the authorities to renovate the barracks to make them safe and comfortable.
TRUCKS CREATE CONGESTION IN SEKONDI=TAKORADI ...(PAGE 25)
STORY: Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu, Sekondi
THIS year’s cocoa season is here again and the number of haulage trucks in the Sekondi-Takoradi metropolis has increased. This has resulted in congestion along the shoulders of the various roads in the metropolis.
The Shama Ahanta East Metropolitan Assembly (SAEMA), which some time ago promised to construct a haulage terminal to provide parking lots for the haulage trucks had failed to fulfil its promise.
Cocoa, which is the main cash crop of the country, is mainly shipped to other countries through the Takoradi Port.
The trucks evacuate cocoa beans from various parts of the country to the Takoradi Port. However, due to the limited number of warehouses for storage before onward shipment, the trucks park anywhere, creating so much congestion in the metropolis.
According to some of the cocoa clerks and the haulage truck drivers the Daily Graphic interviewed, the congestion in the districts from where they carted the produce was more than what pertained in the metropolis.
They said though the various marketing companies or shippers directed them to wait until the congestion at the port had minimised before bringing in more cocoa beans, “ we prefer to move to the city because if you don’t even evacuate the produce, the people will sell what we have bought to others.”
To them, the Western Region also has an unpredictable rainfall pattern and bad roads, and if they did not move from the districts to the regional capital, it would get worse should the rain intensify.
These trucks are, therefore parked everywhere in the metropolis, especially at the Fijai Junction, on the shoulders of the road.
During the same season last year, the Shama Ahanta East Metropilitan Assembly promised to provide a truck terminal for those in the haulage industry.
When contacted, the Public Relations Officer of the assembly, Mr John Laste, said one of the problems facing the Assembly was lack of interest by private investors to provide such a facility for use by those in the haulage industry.
He said the assembly was very worried about the dangers posed by those trucks when they parked at unapproved places in the metropolis.
The PRO said to ensure sanity on the roads in the metropolis during the Christmas period and the period of the Ghana 2008 CAN football competition, some private investors in the haulage industry had come forward and a land had been allocated to them at Npintsin for the construction of the truck terminal.
He said when complete, the terminal could take more than 200 heavy duty trucks at a time in addition to providing a resting place, as well as warehouses.
He said the Assembly had realised that investing in warehouse and truck terminals at designated points could be best handled by the private sector, adding that though the Assembly was not in the position to invest in those areas, it was ready to give the necessary assistance to those interested in the sector.
Mr Laste said it was the wish of the Assembly that those in the industry would have a decent place to park and rest.
He said the Ghana Shippers Council was also doing everything possible to ensure that the needed environment was created for its members by providing facilities to help address the problem.
The PRO gave the assurance that the necessary by-law would be enforced after the haulage truck terminals had been completed to decongest the city.
THIS year’s cocoa season is here again and the number of haulage trucks in the Sekondi-Takoradi metropolis has increased. This has resulted in congestion along the shoulders of the various roads in the metropolis.
The Shama Ahanta East Metropolitan Assembly (SAEMA), which some time ago promised to construct a haulage terminal to provide parking lots for the haulage trucks had failed to fulfil its promise.
Cocoa, which is the main cash crop of the country, is mainly shipped to other countries through the Takoradi Port.
The trucks evacuate cocoa beans from various parts of the country to the Takoradi Port. However, due to the limited number of warehouses for storage before onward shipment, the trucks park anywhere, creating so much congestion in the metropolis.
According to some of the cocoa clerks and the haulage truck drivers the Daily Graphic interviewed, the congestion in the districts from where they carted the produce was more than what pertained in the metropolis.
They said though the various marketing companies or shippers directed them to wait until the congestion at the port had minimised before bringing in more cocoa beans, “ we prefer to move to the city because if you don’t even evacuate the produce, the people will sell what we have bought to others.”
To them, the Western Region also has an unpredictable rainfall pattern and bad roads, and if they did not move from the districts to the regional capital, it would get worse should the rain intensify.
These trucks are, therefore parked everywhere in the metropolis, especially at the Fijai Junction, on the shoulders of the road.
During the same season last year, the Shama Ahanta East Metropilitan Assembly promised to provide a truck terminal for those in the haulage industry.
When contacted, the Public Relations Officer of the assembly, Mr John Laste, said one of the problems facing the Assembly was lack of interest by private investors to provide such a facility for use by those in the haulage industry.
He said the assembly was very worried about the dangers posed by those trucks when they parked at unapproved places in the metropolis.
The PRO said to ensure sanity on the roads in the metropolis during the Christmas period and the period of the Ghana 2008 CAN football competition, some private investors in the haulage industry had come forward and a land had been allocated to them at Npintsin for the construction of the truck terminal.
He said when complete, the terminal could take more than 200 heavy duty trucks at a time in addition to providing a resting place, as well as warehouses.
He said the Assembly had realised that investing in warehouse and truck terminals at designated points could be best handled by the private sector, adding that though the Assembly was not in the position to invest in those areas, it was ready to give the necessary assistance to those interested in the sector.
Mr Laste said it was the wish of the Assembly that those in the industry would have a decent place to park and rest.
He said the Ghana Shippers Council was also doing everything possible to ensure that the needed environment was created for its members by providing facilities to help address the problem.
The PRO gave the assurance that the necessary by-law would be enforced after the haulage truck terminals had been completed to decongest the city.
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
ACTION UNAUTHORISED ... (PAGE 3)
Story: Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu, Takoradi
THE Western Naval Command has stated that it did not authorise any movement of troops to attack the police in Sekondi last Saturday after the arrest of two naval officers during a police swoop on the metropolis.
However, police sources in Sekondi maintained that those who attacked the police station, assaulted the duty officer and attempted to release the two naval officers were naval officers and that their denial was for self defence.
The Navy said the Sub-Lt who went to the station to negotiate the release of the two naval ratings did not have power to move troops and that he was only a duty officer on the day of the incident.
However, the two Able Seamen, Philip Berko Okyere and Emmanuel Nyanyo who were arrested during the swoop have been handed over to the Navy and have been put in a guard room while investigations continue.
Captain George Kofi Anim, the Command Operations Officer of the Western Command, asked, “According to the police report those who were alleged to have attempted to break the cell gate were in civilian clothing, so how can we then say they are naval officers?”
Captain Anim said those who went to attack the police could be the youth from the community where the swoop took place.
“We are not saying that all our men are good or blameless but we do not condone wrongdoing or anything relating to drugs,” he said.
The Command Operations Officer said the Petty Officer who was arrested was just passing through and did not know anything about the problem.
o
THE Western Naval Command has stated that it did not authorise any movement of troops to attack the police in Sekondi last Saturday after the arrest of two naval officers during a police swoop on the metropolis.
However, police sources in Sekondi maintained that those who attacked the police station, assaulted the duty officer and attempted to release the two naval officers were naval officers and that their denial was for self defence.
The Navy said the Sub-Lt who went to the station to negotiate the release of the two naval ratings did not have power to move troops and that he was only a duty officer on the day of the incident.
However, the two Able Seamen, Philip Berko Okyere and Emmanuel Nyanyo who were arrested during the swoop have been handed over to the Navy and have been put in a guard room while investigations continue.
Captain George Kofi Anim, the Command Operations Officer of the Western Command, asked, “According to the police report those who were alleged to have attempted to break the cell gate were in civilian clothing, so how can we then say they are naval officers?”
Captain Anim said those who went to attack the police could be the youth from the community where the swoop took place.
“We are not saying that all our men are good or blameless but we do not condone wrongdoing or anything relating to drugs,” he said.
The Command Operations Officer said the Petty Officer who was arrested was just passing through and did not know anything about the problem.
o
POLICE, NAVY IN A BRAWL (LEAD STORY ... Dec 4, 2007)
Story: Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu, Sekondi.
A LARGE crowd of civilians looked on in awe when about 30 Naval officers engaged an equal number of police officers in a brutal street brawl at the Sekondi Police Station last Saturday night.
The free-for-all followed an attempt by the Naval officers to forcibly free two of their colleagues who had been arrested during a swoop on a hideout in Sekondi believed to be the den of drug peddlers and violent criminals.
In the end, the police triumphed and succeeded in keeping the attacking Navy men at bay. They arrested one of the Navy men, identified as Chief Petty Officer or WO Abu Abubakari, and locked him up with the two at the same police station.
Police sources said the two Navy men were among a group of suspected criminals who were engaged in the smoking of ‘wee’ when the police mounted the exercise. The police rounded them up and placed them in police cells.
The source said when news of the arrest got to the colleagues of the two at the Naval Base, they invaded the police station, assaulted the police woman on duty and attempted to open the cell gate by smashing the locks with stones and metals.
Further investigations by the Daily Graphic revealed that the rampaging naval officers were led by one Sub-Lt Teye Dzadza in the attempt to rescue their two colleagues, who were identified as Philip Berko Okyere and Emmanuel Nyanyo, both Able Seamen stationed in Sekondi.
The officer was said to have made an initial visit to the station to attempt releasing his colleagues but when it was explained to him that they were in lawful custody, he left, only to return with more soldiers to apply force.
With the reinforcement, the soldiers were said to have pounced on the station officer, beat her up before moving to the cell gate to attempt breaking the locks. At that point, the duty officer was said to have blown her whistle to alert the other police officers about the imminent cell break. The alarm attracted the attention of her colleagues who were within hearing range and they immediately rushed in.
Upon the arrival of more policemen, a serious fight ensued, resulting in injuries on both sides. The most severely injured was a policeman who suffered a twisted waist and a broken wrist.
The police however, foiled the attempt to rescue the suspects and arrested one of the Naval officers.
After being so fiercely resisted, the men from the Naval Base left the fight venue, which had then been reduced to a scene of broken stones and other debris.
Information reaching the Daily Graphic indicate that the alleged leader of the group, Sub-Lt Dzadza, is being held for questioning, while the Regional Co-ordinating Council is making attempts to resolve the issue.
The acting Regional Police Commander, ACP R. M. Azu, said the police are investigating but declined further comment.
A LARGE crowd of civilians looked on in awe when about 30 Naval officers engaged an equal number of police officers in a brutal street brawl at the Sekondi Police Station last Saturday night.
The free-for-all followed an attempt by the Naval officers to forcibly free two of their colleagues who had been arrested during a swoop on a hideout in Sekondi believed to be the den of drug peddlers and violent criminals.
In the end, the police triumphed and succeeded in keeping the attacking Navy men at bay. They arrested one of the Navy men, identified as Chief Petty Officer or WO Abu Abubakari, and locked him up with the two at the same police station.
Police sources said the two Navy men were among a group of suspected criminals who were engaged in the smoking of ‘wee’ when the police mounted the exercise. The police rounded them up and placed them in police cells.
The source said when news of the arrest got to the colleagues of the two at the Naval Base, they invaded the police station, assaulted the police woman on duty and attempted to open the cell gate by smashing the locks with stones and metals.
Further investigations by the Daily Graphic revealed that the rampaging naval officers were led by one Sub-Lt Teye Dzadza in the attempt to rescue their two colleagues, who were identified as Philip Berko Okyere and Emmanuel Nyanyo, both Able Seamen stationed in Sekondi.
The officer was said to have made an initial visit to the station to attempt releasing his colleagues but when it was explained to him that they were in lawful custody, he left, only to return with more soldiers to apply force.
With the reinforcement, the soldiers were said to have pounced on the station officer, beat her up before moving to the cell gate to attempt breaking the locks. At that point, the duty officer was said to have blown her whistle to alert the other police officers about the imminent cell break. The alarm attracted the attention of her colleagues who were within hearing range and they immediately rushed in.
Upon the arrival of more policemen, a serious fight ensued, resulting in injuries on both sides. The most severely injured was a policeman who suffered a twisted waist and a broken wrist.
The police however, foiled the attempt to rescue the suspects and arrested one of the Naval officers.
After being so fiercely resisted, the men from the Naval Base left the fight venue, which had then been reduced to a scene of broken stones and other debris.
Information reaching the Daily Graphic indicate that the alleged leader of the group, Sub-Lt Dzadza, is being held for questioning, while the Regional Co-ordinating Council is making attempts to resolve the issue.
The acting Regional Police Commander, ACP R. M. Azu, said the police are investigating but declined further comment.
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