The Volta Regional Police Command says Alavanyo has become a base for the production of assault weapons, which has made the area even more volatile and more prone to violence.
The Volta Regional Police Commander, DCOP Francis Ebenezer Doku told journalists after last Sunday’s shootout at Alavanyo Dzogbedze, in which four people died, that the area remains a high-risk zone because of the proliferation of weapons.
[contextly_sidebar id=”ctAIwE6D71FVDXnj7s2DGatEuZMl1h6q”]“As weapons are being imported into Alavanyo, they themselves are also manufacturing weapons,” he said indicating that they have currently identified the location of over 70 AK47 assault rifles which have been stashed away.
“When it comes to the manufacturing of guns, Alavanyo is leading in the country… As we speak, there are people who go there on duty to guard the manufacturing base,” Volta Regional Police Commander, Doku indicated.
DCOP Doku noted that such weapons are not meant for hunting but for killing human targets.
“What are they manufacturing the weapons for, to go and kill grass cutters? The target is human beings, you and I, so they will go all out to defend their position” he intimated.
When asked why the police has not arrested the arms producers, DCOP Doku responded: “Will they allow us to do that? They will put all manner of defenses mechanisms in place because they have an interest in it. So if we begin to pick them one by one, are we not reducing the numbers?”
The youth of Alavanyo disputed the police’s account of the recent violence, insisting the police clashed with the youth over a marijuana farm belonging to an Ashaiman Police officer who had invested in the business through his younger brother, one Stephen Awaner.
“A Police officer in Ashaiman in the Greater Accra Region gave his brother one Stephen Awaner an amount of Ghc20,000 to farm wee for him at Alavanyo – Dzogbedze. The brother who already owed some of the youth in the business had to pay his balance to them but was hesitant. So the boys harvested 15 sticks of marijuana [Amnesia Haze breed] to compensate for their balance.
“After the actual harvest was made and the officer’s part was sent to him, he wasn’t happy that he made losses on his investment so had to call in the Regional Police Commander DCOP Francis Doku to arrest the boys who harvested the 15 sticks,” the youth association noted in a statement.
When Citi News contacted the Volta Regional Police command for a response to the claims by the youth of Alavanyo, DCOP Doku issued a denial.
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By: Benjamin Aklama | citinewsroom.com | bkaklama@gmail.com | Ghana