Member of Parliament for Gomoa Central, Kwame Asare Obeng, popularly known as A-Plus, has threatened to push for the closure of the Effutu North District Police Station at New Winneba amid renewed tensions over a longstanding land dispute.
According to the MP, the police station is located on land that falls within the traditional and administrative boundaries of Gomoa, based on a report he says was provided by the Lands Commission.
Speaking on Neat FM, A-Plus said he became concerned about the dispute between Gomoa and Effutu after assuming office and subsequently petitioned the Lands Commission to clarify the boundaries of the two areas.
He said the Commission provided him with a detailed report outlining the respective traditional and administrative boundaries of Gomoa Central and Effutu.
A-Plus subsequently wrote to the Ministry of the Interior, drawing attention to the location of the Effutu North District Police Station, which he claims is situated deep within Gomoa territory.
The MP argued that the presence of an Effutu-associated police facility within what he considers Gomoa land could further inflame tensions between the two communities.
He said the location of the station could also create the impression that the authorities recognise the area as part of Effutu, a position he insists is inconsistent with the Lands Commission’s findings.
A-Plus further disclosed plans to lead his constituents in another demonstration over the matter, despite the violence that marred an earlier protest.
He attributed part of the escalation during the previous demonstration to the failure of organisers to obtain a police permit, arguing that the presence of adequate security personnel could have prevented some of the violence.
“We are going on another demonstration. The mistake my people made was that, during the first demonstration, they did not obtain a permit. If they had secured a permit, the police would have been deployed to protect them, and a whole lot of things would have been different,” he said.
“But nobody should sit down and think that we are relenting. We will close down the Effutu North District Police Station in New Winneba,” he added.
The MP also alleged that police officers used live ammunition during the confrontation, claiming that two people were killed and 19 others injured.
The police, however, have given a different account of the casualties, putting the death toll at three and the number of injured persons between 15 and 17. The injured are reportedly receiving treatment at the Winneba Trauma Hospital.
The clashes were linked to the longstanding land dispute between communities in the Gomoa and Effutu areas and resulted in heightened security concerns in the affected communities.
In response, the police have deployed additional personnel, established checkpoints and intensified patrols to restore calm and prevent further violence.
Several suspects have also reportedly been arrested as investigations continue into the clashes.
@phamous.com“We will closed down Effutu North District Police Station” — MP Gomoa Central
