Police deal with Savelugu protesters

The Northern Regional Police Command has said it is on standby to deal ruthlessly with the New Patriotic Party (NPP) members disrupting the work of the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of Savelugu Nantong, Hajia Ayishetu Seidu.

On Monday, President Akufo Addo charged the Police to arrest his party members, who have prevented the MCE from working, since her confirmation by Assembly members.
They insist Madam Ayishetu must be removed at all cost, claiming she’s an alien to the party in the area.

Welcoming the President’s call, the Northern Regional Police PRO, ASP Muhammed Tanko, said they are already on standby to deal with the trouble makers.



“The President’s order was in the right direction but as a Police institution, we need not wait for the President to call upon us before we do the right thing. We have to take decisions that will ensure that there is security and peace in the system, and that is exactly what we set out to do and you remember last Thursday when we went there, we used reasonable force on them and our objective was achieved and since then the message has been sent to them…They have not gathered to do what they did in the past so I think we are on course.”

Background

The Savelugu-Nantong Municipal Chief Executive, Hajia Ayishetu Seidu, has been under siege since her confirmation. Her challengers have vowed to resist any attempt to allow her work in the office . They have also served notice to fiercely resist any forceful imposition.

They have warned that the NPP risks losing the Savelugu seat in the 2020 polls if Hajia Ayishetu Seidu is not replaced. Hajia Ayishetu Seidu was finally inducted into office under heavy security.

A joint task-force from the Regional Security Council and the Municipal Security Committee, escorted her to office, but the protesters defied the security escort and locked up the main entrance to the Savelugu/Nantong Municipal Assembly complex.

The armed security personnel dispatched there fired warning shots and brought the situation under control.

The situation has since created uneasy calm in the Savelugu township where the protesters have so far organized three peaceful demonstrations against the MCE’s nomination and subsequent confirmation.

Savelugu MP condemns standoff

The Savelugu constituency Member of Parliament, Hon. Abdul Samed Gunu, however, insists that diplomacy is the panacea to the problems there.

He is afraid of losing the seat at the 2020 polls which the NPP won for the first time in 2016 if his constituents are oppressed.



By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline