A youth group calling itself, youth for justice at Klefe-Demete in the Ho Municipality of the Volta Region have accused the Ghana Police Service of dabbling in chieftaincy and other traditional practices in the Klefe traditional area.
The Ghana Police in Ho led by the Deputy Volta Regional Police Commander, Owusu Ansah, allegedly acting on orders from the Inspector- General of Police (IGP) Tetteh Yohornu, ordered the Klefe traditional authorities to bury the late “Dufia” of Klefe-Demete, Togbe Adja Yao Saka in spite of a Ho High Court motion of injunction placed on activities of the funeral rites and burial of the late chief.
By this action of the IGP and his subordinates in Ho, they have interfered and usurped the powers of Klefe traditional leaders. They have also defied the Ho High Court interlocutory injunction placed on the funeral and burial of the late “Dufia” of Klefe-Demete which amounts to contempt of the court.
Narrating this issue to 3news correspondent in Ho, the leader of the youth group, Bruce Agbetey said the Asafofia Togbe Hosi’s faction and the Agbodei family, the purported family responsible for the burial of the late chief were invited by the Ho Municipal Commander Jerry Allan which they obliged.
Leaders of the Asafofia’s faction and members of the Agbodei’s family in the company of their lawyers availed themselves at the Ho Municipal Police Station.
At a short meeting held in camera with the Asafofia’s faction, the Deputy Volta Regional Police Commander, Owusu Ansah and the Ho Municipal Police Commander, Jerry Allan ordered that the late chief be buried “as quickly as it should be ” since the Divisional Chief was an Ex-Police Officer and that their order is non-negotiable.
According to Agbetey the two Police commanders said “the IGP gave the order and that laws are made to be broken notwithstanding the High Court injunction placed on the funeral activities “.
This order by the IGP, Agbetey fumed, was under duress and undue influence as the two senior Police officers threatened to mal-handle them if they fail to heed to the IGP’s alleged order.
He said as law abiding citizens in Klefe as they are, they would always maintain their stance not to be part of such unlawful activity since the case is before the Ho High Court pending adjudication, to avoid being cited for contempt of the court.
The youth leader wondered “if Ghana laws are really up to the task for the police being aware of the court injunction placed on the funeral activities of the late chief yet are forcing for the quick burial of the person who they say was an ex-police officer.
Mr Agbetey said “the Asafofia’s faction are waiting patiently for the outcome of the illegal burial.”
A member of the youth group, Yao Amegatse argued that these Police officers were part of the emergency Security Council meeting held in Ho when a public order notice was served to the “Zikpuitor,” Charles Agbezuge following the high Court motion of injunction which he noted keeps baffling them as future leaders of the Klefe traditional area.
He stressed that “if the laws of Ghana are truly fair to the people of Klefe-Demete, then the Police officers and their superior officer, IGP and the “Zikpuitor ” be made to face the full rigours of the law.
The Paramount Chief of Klefe traditional area, Togbega Korku Dzaga denied ever being part of any of such unlawful burial of the Divisional Chief, Adja Yao Saka on Saturday and would not want to drag issues with the 3news reporter who kept asking questions to unravel the truth.
Togbe Dzaga described the action taken by some members of Demete community as being mischievous with the claim to be the purported rightful family responsible for the burial of the late chief.
Meanwhile the Volta Regional State Attorney, Moses Asampoa who was at the Security Council meeting maintained that the high Court motion of injunction and the public order notice served to the “Zikpuitor” and his supporters is pending and any act contrary to the court orders is punishable by law.
