Gomoa Central Member of Parliament Kwame Asare Obeng, popularly known as A-Plus, has warned that residents of Gomoa may be forced to take collective action if the government fails to protect them following recent deadly clashes.
Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen programme on Tuesday, September 1, A-Plus said residents could give the government a seven-day ultimatum to address the deteriorating security situation. He added that if no action is taken within that period, chiefs across Gomoa would be convened to agree on a collective response.
“If the law does not take it up, we the people of Gomoa will come together. We will give them seven days, call every chief in Gomoa and declare the government an enemy of Gomoa. If they don’t protect us, we will protect ourselves,” he said.
His comments follow clashes at New Winneba that resulted in three deaths and left about 15 people injured, including a police officer. The injured were receiving treatment at the Trauma and Specialist Hospital in Winneba.
According to the Ghana Police Service, the violence began at about 10:40 a.m. when an estimated 300 people, allegedly armed with guns, stones, cutlasses and sticks, stormed the New Winneba Township. Expressing concern over the incident, A-Plus said the longstanding tensions over land in the area must be addressed urgently to prevent further bloodshed.
“This issue has been long-standing. For peace to prevail, for the sake of harmony to exist between us, we must address or handle this issue as leaders, irrespective of how unhappy we are,” he said. “We don’t want this issue to escalate. Three lives have been lost already. I am very angry,” he added.
Calls for restraint
Despite his concerns, the MP said he was prepared to allow the Police to investigate the incident and urged residents to remain calm and law-abiding.
“We are going to allow the Police to handle this matter. We are going to be law-abiding,” he said.
He, however, maintained that residents had a legal right to protect their lives and property, while emphasising that the primary responsibility for ensuring security rests with the state.
“The law allows us to protect lives and property. The law allows us to defend ourselves and protect our properties,” he stated.
A-Plus also alleged that gangs and landguards had been operating in the area and attacking residents on their farms. He described the situation as a longstanding security concern, claiming that authorities had previously been alerted to the problem.
“There are so many things that have gone on in this area, with a few people trying to create gangs in this area, with landguards attacking people on their farms,” he alleged.
Previous warnings
The Member of Parliament expressed that he had previously raised concerns with officials regarding the land dispute and warned that the situation could escalate into violence. He mentioned that he had engaged with Interior Minister Muntaka Mubarak and the Chief Director of the Ministry of the Interior, urging them to take action. “I have informed them about everything. Last year, I warned them that this issue would arise. I stressed that they need to address these matters,” he stated.
A-Plus, speaking about New Winneba in the Central Region, also mentioned that he reached out to the Lands Commission for clarification on the boundaries between Gomoa and Effutu lands. “I approached the Lands Commission and requested a comprehensive report on the boundaries between Effutu and Gomoa, as this is something that could potentially lead to confusion. They provided me with a detailed report,” he explained. He claimed that he later submitted this report to the Interior Ministry, which subsequently directed the Police to take action.
Allegations against Police
While expressing his support for the Police, A-Plus raised concerns about the conduct of some officers during the clashes. He alleged that certain officers fired their weapons indiscriminately and claimed that information available to him indicated that two of the deceased were shot by police officers.
“I support the Police, but some of the Police officers in this area were everywhere, firing guns sporadically. According to information I gathered, policemen killed two of the people there,” he said.
The allegation has not been independently verified and would require investigation by the appropriate authorities.
A-Plus also cited claims from eyewitnesses that one of the deceased was among a group of young men who had recently appeared in a social media video allegedly assaulting people in Winneba. According to him, the individuals were arrested but were later granted bail.
“Why must this continue like that? The Police must be here. The Police must protect the people,” he said.
Land dispute
A-Plus emphasized that resolving the underlying land dispute is essential to preventing further violence and called for greater clarity regarding the boundaries between Gomoa and Effutu. He argued that the legal status of the disputed lands must be respected, particularly in cases where the lands are vested and under the administration of the appropriate authorities. “The land in this area is vested, and if land is vested, you cannot sell it. It is the Lands Commission that will administer the land,” he stated.
He urged the Lands Commission and other relevant state institutions to clarify the boundaries and the legal status of the lands. With three people already dead due to the clashes, A-Plus warned that leaders could no longer afford to let tensions in the area escalate. He called on the police and relevant government institutions to take decisive action while urging residents to remain calm and law-abiding to prevent the New Winneba dispute from evolving into a larger conflict.
