Three persons have been reportedly shot dead with scores of others injured in a renew clash between the people of Lower Manya Krobo Municipality, and the police over electricity tariffs.
According to report, the three shot dead include a 14 years old boy. The boy was said to be selling sachet water at Agormanya when he was struck down by a stray bullet several meters away from the scene of the protest.
Some of the people who have been critically injured as a results of the pandemonium including an 18-year old girl have also been rushed to the Agormanya Saint Martin Hospital for treatment.
Fight over electricity tariffs
Residents of the Lower Manya Krobo area of the Eastern Region have been fighting power suppliers since 2017 over what they describe as high electricity bills. Sometime last year, the residents beseeched the premises of the then Electricity Company of Ghana(ECG) to destroy property belonging to the company worth several thousands of Ghana cedis.
According to the residents, aside the high electricity tariffs being charged them, their fore bearers also signed agreement with the Volta River authority not to pay electricity tariffs. According to them, the agreement became necessary due to the construction of the Akosombo and Akuse hydropower dams which affected their lands and caused damage to several lives and properties and therefore do not see the need to pay tariffs now.
Today’s clash
Today’s clash started after PDS officials in the company of police officers disconnected power to a community in Yohe.
Angry youths, mainly residents in Agormanya, poured onto the streets and spontaneously marched towards the office of the Municipal Chief Executive.
According to an eye witness who narrated what happened to the Eveningmailgh.com, he said the youth threw stones recklessly in their anger and were met with a police force that fired guns to disperse the people.
Yesterday’s clash
Yesterday, a similar clash occurred which left three injured and one person arrested.
Yesterday’s clash was second time that the police had come face to face with same residents followiing another incidence on Monday 20th May.
On Monday, the youth pelted Stones at the police and personnel of PDS while doing the disconnection at Manya Kpongunor.
Police Response
Condirming the Wednesday clash, the Eastern Regional PRO of the Ghana Police Service, DSP Ebenezer Tetteh, said at about 10: 00 on Wednesday 22nd May, officials of PDS continued with the mass disconnection exercise at Yohe, a suburb of Odumase Krobo to switch off the main transformer serving the entire Krobo enclave for their refusal to pay their electricity bills.
He said the team were met by mob of irate youth who blocked the road with blocks and firewood and set ablaze lorry tires in the middle of the road in an attempt to stop the exercise while pelting stones at the police.
However, he said the police succeeded in assisting to switch off the main transformer.
Attack on MCE
According to reports, all seemed to be calm afterwards until the youth later decided to march to the residence of the Municipal Chief Executive sparking another clash leading to the unfortunate demise of three residents.
Source: eveningmailgh.com
