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Residents of Oshieye, a Ga fishing community near Kokrobite, a suburb of Accra, were on Thursday, June 13, 2019, traumatised when armed men in military apparel descended heavily on them.
The six-hour siege which started around 1:00am entailed searching of targeted houses, arresting of townsfolk, blocking of main road and the curtailing of movement of residents.
At the end of the operation, about 22 members of the community made up of elders, women and some youth were taken away by the armed men.
When DAILY GUIDE visited the community at about 4:00pm on the day of incident, the community was still at a standstill after the armed men had left the area.
Some youth were seen clad in red while children gathered around their parents anxiously waiting for the return of their relatives.
According to some residents, the military were operating under the guidance of some masked civilians who led them to the houses of residents.
There was evidence of ransacked rooms and broken doors that had marks of combat boots showing signs of forceful entry into the houses.
Chief of the community Nii Akrashie II recounted to DAILY GUIDE a similar event which occurred two years ago when some elders of the community were arrested under a similar circumstance; a day before the ban on noise making was lifted.
Being part of those arrested, he was taken into police custody and was not given any reason as to why he was arrested.
He disclosed that he managed to escape the recent insurgence from men who claimed to be operating under “orders from above” because he had picked up earlier signals.
“They said they would bring to town a new chief which they had installed somewhere and they would not want any of us to be present when that happens,” he said.
According to him, the police in charge of the jurisdiction have denied any prior knowledge of the operation that occurred.
Nii Akrashie expressed surprise at the turn of events by saying that the community has been peaceful for the past one year since a peace process was initiated to resolve a longstanding chieftaincy and land dispute.
The factions – Akrashie and Nii Afadi Annoh – were hosted at a meeting which was attended by the Weija Divisional Commander, Chief Superintendent Kwesi Annor Arhin, and chaired by the Municipal Chief Executive of the Ga South Municipal Assembly, Mr Joseph Nyarni Stephen.
Members of both factions have over the years accused each other of allegedly brutalising one another which has led to loss of lives.
Out of fear for their lives, some factions have also fled the community leaving properties, women and children behind.
The chieftaincy issue is before the Chieftaincy Dispute Arbitration Committee of the Ngleshie Alata Traditional Council at James Town, Accra.
Chief Superintendent Arhin made it clear that issues that were before the law court were beyond the remits of the police and the municipal chief executive.
By Issah Mohammed