The Ashanti Regional Police are on the heels of the Member of Parliament (MP) for Asante Akyem North, Mr Kwadwo Baah Agyemang, and the Communications Director of the National Democratic Party (NDP), Mr Ernest Owusu Bempah, for their alleged inflammatory utterances at a press conference at Agogo last Tuesday.
The two charged the residents to chase Fulani herdsmen out of the area, following the inability of the Ashanti Regional Coordinating, Council and the security councils to implement the Kumasi High Court ruling that asked the Fulani herdsmen to be evacuated from the area.
Atrocities
Agogo indigenes have accused the Fulani herdsmen of acts of atrocities including armed robbery, rape, killing, maiming and the destruction of their farms.
According to the police, the Fulanis murdered 11 people in the area between January, 2014 and January, 2016. Investigations into only one of such killings have been concluded and the culprit jailed 30 years.
The police believe the statements of the two citizens were very inflammatory and provocative and could lead to a conflict between the indigenes and nomadic Fulani herdsmen.
Effects
Already, the police are blaming the two for a clash that erupted between a Konkomba settler community and the Fulani herdsmen a day after their infamous utterances which led to the killing of five cows and gunshot injury to a Fulani.
A similar incident was also recorded at Ejura where two Fulani herdsmen were reported to have been killed in a confrontation with the people.
Invitation
Speaking to the Daily Graphic, the Ashanti Regional Police Public Relations Officer, Assistant Superintendent of Police Yussif Tanko, said the police had extended an invitation to the two to report themselves for questioning or risked being arrested.
He said their utterances at the said press conference could be termed as inciting the people against the Fulanis in the area, a situation he said could lead to chaos and lawlessness.
Press conference
At a press conference last Tuesday at Agogo to register their displeasure at the continuous stay of the nomadic herdsmen in the area, Mr Owusu Bempah told the residents not to rely on the security agencies anymore but to defend themselves.
He told the people that “we will not rely on anybody but rely on ourselves. Let’s come together and unite to sack these Fulanis from here”.
“If it is guns and machetes that you do not have, come to me, I will supply you,” he added.
He accused the police of conniving with the nomads and failing to arrest and prosecute them whenever they committed any crime against the indigenes.
The anger of the indigenes stemmed from the recent murder of a traditional priest, Okomfo Akwasi Badu, at Kowireso allegedly by a Fulani herdsman when Badu confronted him for bringing his cattle to graze on his farm.
The people alleged that the suspected murderer had been released by the police.
Reactions
Mr Baah Agyemang is reported to have declined the invitation of the police and called their bluff.
He maintained that as an MP, the police could not arrest him without the explicit approval of the Speaker of Parliament.
Order 22 of the Standing Orders of Parliament stipulates that “No civil or criminal proceedings shall be served on, or executed in relation to Mr Speaker or a Member of Parliament or the Clerk to Parliament while he is on his way to, attending or returning from any proceedings of Parliament.”
By: Graphic Online
