A Tarkwa- based businessman, Emmanuel Kutubebi, who was attacked by a supposed illegal mining group at the Bonsa toll booth in the Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipality, resulting in the death of one of his body guards, says his life is in danger.
He has thus called on the Inspector General of Police to probe the matter speedily and prosecute the assailants.
Addressing a press conference in Takoradi to set the records straight on the deadly clash, Emmanuel Kutubebi said he is only lucky to be alive as his family is still threatened.
He, therefore, appealed to the IGP to offer him some support.
“My security team and I were returning from my fuel station which is very close to the Bonsa Police Barrier heading towards Tarkwa. On reaching the Bonsa Tollbooth which is about 100 meters from the police barrier a group of men numbering about five in a white Toyota corolla salon car with a registration number GM -8700-13 led by one Awal Mohammed alias Apakalo, who is known to be the leader of Nana Amponsah security team, tried to cross my Landcruiser, but I maneuvered and escaped. But my security team was unlucky and they were blocked and attacked with cutlasses and guns which they fired in the full glare of the public killing Alhasaan Ali.”
“After their operations, they drove to Wassa Agona where they pointed a gun at a Trotro driver to drive them away because they had a tyre burst. My life is in danger now, and I am therefore appealing to Dr. George Akuffo Dampare IGP who has demonstrated enough leadership and competence to look into this matter and ensure that perpetrators are brought to book because no one is above the law in Ghana“, he said.
Emmanuel Kutubebi said the attack on him and his bodyguards follows an earlier threat on his life by one Okobeng, a known small scale miner in Tarkwa.
“As you will recall, in December 2021, a tape purported to be the voice of one Nana Amponsah Alias Okobeng leaked. In the said tape, he was planning to kill me and one Agyei Ben also of Tarkwa. I reserve further comments on it since that case is before the law court. However, I am of the firm belief that Nana Amponsah alias Okobeng and his thugs, have a grand agenda to intimidate and take my life. Therefore, I requested police protection when the plot audio came out, but I was told I can’t be assigned one police officer to protect me. I quickly organized a private security team for my protection who have been with me since December last year till date.“, he added.
He also bemoaned and denied allegations that he and his team are connected to a Deputy Lands and Natural Resources Minister, and MP for Tarkwa Nsuaem, George Mireku Duker.
“This unprovoked, despicable, and barbaric act is purely criminal, and in an attempt to sway public attention, the said Nana Amponsah (Okobeng) is trying to draw in the MP for Tarkwa Nsuaem Constituency and Deputy Lands and Natural Resources Minister, George Mireku Duker. This is because he knows very well that is possible to escape punishment in Ghana if you politicize issues.”
“I must state emphatically that none of my security team members have any connection with Hon. Duker. If anybody has evidence of any of my men having any association with the MP, the person can bring it forward. It is for this reason that I am appealing to Dr. George Akuffo Dampare IGP to look into this matter and ensure that perpetrators are brought to book because no one is above the law in Ghana”, he intimated.
The Western Regional Police Command says it has so far arrested about 10 persons connected to the Tarkwa violent clash.