The office of the Bono East Regional Minister, Kofi Amoakonene has responded to media publications accusing him of masterminding chaos at a mosque in Atebubu.
A rejoinder signed by the special assistant to the Regional Minister, Eric Owusu Addo, describes the allegation as baseless and lacking merit.
According to the rejoinder, the misunderstanding that ensued between some members of the Zongo community and SWAT unit was as a result of attempts by the security personnel to enforce the president’s directive on public gatherings.
Urging the public to ignore the allegations, it bemoaned that it is preposterous that some elements in the NDC are trying to seek political gains out of any situation instead of channeling such energies towards the fight against COVID-19 in the Municipality.
The Bono East Youth Organiser of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Bilal Muazu Sulemana, accused the Regional Minister of ordering members of the SWAT Team to invade a mosque in Atebubu.
Muazu alleged that the SWAT unit under the instructions of the Regional Minister subjected those at the mosque to some brutalities before issuing warning shots causing fear and panic in the vicinity in the process.
Read the full rejoinder by the Bono East Regional Minister below
RE: FEAR AND PANIC GRIPS ATEBUBU ZONGO COMMUNITY AS REGIONAL MINISTER ORDERS HIS MEN TO CAUSE CONFUSION.
My attention has been drawn to a purported release by Bilal Mauzu Suleman ( NDC Bono East Regional Youth Organizer) and published by Ghanaweb.com over a misunderstanding that erupted between the law enforcers (police -SWAT) and some Muslim brothers in Atebubu in the Atebubu/Amantin Municipality concerning the enforcement of the president's directives in this critical moment of the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
I wish to state unequivocally that the release lack substance and should be treated with all the contempt it deserves.
Apart from the release being frivolous, it is also an attempt by the NDC to politicise the fight against the pandemic in the municipality and the region knowing how effective and efficient the region has been in this fight under my leadership.
I want to state that, as the Chairman of the RESEC, I only encourage law enforcers to perform their professional duties and coordinate the activities of the various MMDAs but do not dictate their operations.
Also, I've not received any official complaint from any individual concerning the said brutality. The person who signed the release is not a resident of Atebubu and therefore find it intriguing and surprising for his involvement if not to create unnecessary political tension.
The world is in crisis and Ghana is not and an exception. I, therefore, want to reiterate that COVID 19 is not a respecter of class, political affiliation, religion or race and thus must be fought with all the unity that it deserves. It is therefore imperative to abide by the president's directives to save lives.
I have never been brutal and do not condone brutality.
I want to state that the directives of the president are still in force, and citizens must be law-abiding.
Stay home to keep the virus from moving.
Remember, it is easier to stay at home than to close a casket of a loved one. Our lives are in our own hands. God save us all.
Thank you.
File photo