The youth of Ntobroso believes soldiers who were deployed to the Atwima Mponua District town embarked on a targeted operation, according to their leadership which has further rejected media reports some officials were attacked by town folks.
On Wednesday, February 23, soldiers were reportedly sent to the town to check the activities of illegal miners in the area and other adjoining towns in the Ashanti Region.
The team had visited some illegal mining sites and reportedly set some excavators and other equipment owned by a licensed miner, ablaze. The fire later spread to a nearby house destroying several properties and displacing other occupants.
“Though the house was quite far from the burning excavators, the fuel spillage from the house to the excavators also caught fire, causing the fire to travel to the House,” a top Army Officer of the Central Command, Brigadier General, Joseph Aduko Aphour, said at a press conference.
Although the Ghana Army had said it was investigating the incident, the group which calls itself the Concern Youth of Ntobroso has condemned the actions of the soldiers who are members of the Operation Halt II, taskforce.
“The officers ignored earlier warnings from our queen-mother. They hurriedly set the excavators parked at the center of the house, ablaze. A lot of properties belonging to the community which have been kept in that house has been burnt”, said Secretary of the group Domfeh Emmanuel as he rejected claims the community attacked the District Chief Executive of the area.
“Everyone in the community believes it is a targeted attack and we believe justice must be served. We are asking the military high command to restore our properties and punish the errant officers, including the senior officers who gave the orders to burn these equipment which were not on site… It would be senseless for them to embark on such an operation and that is very unfortunate”, he added.
In a related development the Ghana National Fire Service has condemned alleged attacks on its men by the youth of Ntobroso.
A statement released by the Service on February 24 said its men came under attack while responding to emergency services connected to the incident.
It has since reported the matter to the police for necessary action.
Read full statement below:
SOURCE: DAILY MAIL GH