The Ministry of National Security has refuted allegations of intentionally targeting and causing the deaths of two individuals in the Akan Constituency within the Oti Region.
This response comes in the wake of the tragic incident in the Yadzo community of the Oti Region on Monday, where two footballers reportedly lost their lives while being pursued by National Security Operatives.
The pursuit allegedly occurred as the individuals were attempting to transport cocoa beans to Togo.
In a statement issued on December 27, the National Security Ministry explained that “the incident leading to the death of the two persons was purely accidental and not borne out of a targeted operation.”
Setting the record straight, the Ministry explained that in October 2023, in collaboration with COCOBOD, it launched an intelligence-led operation along the Eastern Corridor which includes the Akan Constituency, to prevent cocoa smuggling to neighbouring countries.
The launch of the intelligence-led operation was informed by a surge in cocoa smuggling activities, leading to a significant reduction in the quantum of cocoa beans sold by farmers to Licensed Buying Companies (LBCs). This explains the presence of National Security personnel in the Akan Constituency.
The anti-cocoa smuggling operations have, so far, been successful with several persons involved in the smuggling activities arrested. A significant amount of cocoa beans seized from the smugglers have been submitted as exhibits for the prosecution of the arrested persons. It is worth noting that as a result of the intelligence-led operations, the LBCs have recorded an uptick in the quantum of cocoa sold to them by farmers.
Regrettably, on December 25, 2023, one of the vehicles of the anti-cocoa smuggling operations team was involved in an accident when it collided head-on with a motorcycle carrying two persons; a development that claimed the lives of the two persons aboard the motorcycle.
In the immediate aftermath of the accident, personnel of the Ghana Police Service arrived at the scene to commence full-scale investigations. However, some aggrieved persons in the Akan Constituency, guided by a misconception that the two deceased persons were deliberately targeted, vandalised the vehicle and set it ablaze.
The matter has been officially reported to the police for a thorough investigation. Reacting to the tragic incidence, Member of Parliament for Akan Constituency, Engr. Yao Gomado, has vowed to pursue the matter lawfully to its final conclusion, involving both the national security secretariat and the government.
In a call to action, he urged the National Security Minister to withdraw officers from the constituency to prevent potential clashes.
“I want to assure the general public and members of the family of the deceased individuals of my commitment as a Member of Parliament to pursue the matter lawfully to its final conclusion with the national security secretariat and government,” declared Hon. Engr. Yao Gomado.