‘SET UP C’SSION TO LOOK INTO ANLO CLASHES’

Story: Tim Dzamboe & Victor Kwawukume, Anloga

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Ave-Avenor Hon. Edward Doe Adjaho has called on government to institute an independent commission of enquiry to look into circumstances that surrounded the rioting at Anloga last Thursday and led to the loss of four lives including that of a policeman.

According to him, with the loss of a policeman, he did not believe that the police would be able to do an impartial investigation and that it was necessary for a committee to be set up to investigate the matter.

Hon. Doe Adjaho said this when he led a delegation of MPs including the MP for Anlo, Hon. Clement Kofi Humado, MP for Ketu North, Hon. James Avedzi and that of Ketu South, Hon. Albert Zigah to assess the situation at Anloga following the clashes that occurred in connection with the rites towards the installation of Regent Sri III as Awoamefia of the Anlo State.

Hon. Adjaho said he was disappointed in the police and that the police had not acted professionally.

He said that there were clear indications that the planned installation of the Regent as Awoamefia was going to create a problem, in spite of that the police granted the permit for it to be done.

“What assessment did the Police do before granting the permit?”, he questioned.

He said the MP for the area had been on radio last week with the information that there could be a problem if the planned installation took place adding that if the police had heeded the advice, there would not have been any loss of lives.

He accused the police of taking sides and protecting one side to the neglect of the other saying when the commission of enquiry is set up and comes out with its finding, those guilty should be made to face the full rigours of the law.

He also called on the two sides to exercise restraint and allow the judicial process to take its course.

In a related development, the President of the Volta Regional House of Chiefs, Togbega Gabusu VI condemned the violence that had led to the loss of four lives.

He has also called on both factions in the dispute to exercise calm and pursue channels of dialogue saying that the Volta Region was noted for peace and that they should not do anything that would mar that image of the region.

In another development, a press release signed and issued by the Awoamefia Stool Secretary, Napoleon Agboada for and on behalf of the Adzorvia Clan last Friday stated that “the final confinement rites have been performed and the new Awoamefia known as Tobgi Sri III has accordingly been installed and outdoored this morning, November 2, 2007 at the Central stool house and Agorwoxonu at Anloga. A coronation date will be announced later”.

The statement said that following the unfortunate incident that occurred when three persons and a security man lost their lives and in consultation with “Fiagawo” under the Anlo Traditional Council, an emergency traditional council meeting would be conveyed on Tuesday, November 13 in Anloga to discuss the issues and make representations to government.

“The unwarranted attack on the Police and other persons by a rebel group organised by the so called Concerned Citizens of Anlo to cause mayhem is hereby totally condemned”, it said.

“We wish to caution and advise those who proclaim violence that they would one day be consumed by violence. Whilst we bear no one grudge, we state categorically that non-royals and betrayers would never be permitted to veer us from our royal duty”, the statement stressed.

The release on the installation had engendered a conflict with a media report that an Accra Fast Track High court had restrained the kingmakers of the Anlo traditional council from installing Francis Nyonyo Agboada, alias Regent Torgbui Sri III as the Awoamefia.