Residents of Wassa Essaman in the Wassa East district of the Western region have accused the Wassa East District Chief Executive (DCE), Emmanuel Boakye of allegedly deploying macho men to take over the Wassa Essaman community with the aim of driving out strangers.
According to residents, the macho men, armed with guns patrol the community day and night, firing warning shots leading to the death of a 21-year-old man.
The alleged incident has however caused residents to live in fear and demand immediate action from the Inspector General of Police (IGP).
Speaking to journalists, the Dwamtoahene of Wassa Anyinabrem divisional area, Nana Kwadjo Boampong II noted that, there was peace and stability in the community until all of a sudden the DCE threatened all strangers living in the community to leave because he was bringing people from elsewhere to engage in community mining in the Subri forest reserves and does not want strangers to be involved in this supposed community mining.
Meanwhile, Nana Kwadjo Boampong II argue that the entire Wassa Essaman community is occupied by strangers with some living there for decades and acquiring properties.
Nana Kwadjo Boampong II added that when the DCE made such an apartheid announcement, the entire community resisted resulting in the DCE deploying armed macho men.
Residents particularly women also expressed that, the inhumane action by the DCE has woefully affected economic activities, families and marriages in the community hence the IGP should intervene.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for the Wassa East constituency, Isaac Adjei Mensah also condemned the act and called for calm and peace in the area however the DCE has refuted claims of being involved in such activities.
