Bonteso clash; Chief calls for the release of detained assembly member and three others:

The acting chief of Bonteso, Nana Kwaku Duah, has made a passionate appeal for the release of the area assembly member together with three others who were arrested during the recent police taskforce anti- galamsay operations in the community that led to some injuries and arrests.

Deeply troubled by the development, the acting chief said, it’s very unfortunate that his peaceful town was suddenly disrupted with the ‘rambo stylish’ approach by the police taskforce leading to the arrest and injuries of ‘innocent’ community folks. “That’s what happened in this peaceful community, I’m not happy at all. It was terrible,” Nana Kwaku Duah expressed, his voice filled with disappointment during a community gathering.

He described the police action as “unprofessional,” claiming they rounded up innocent people who were simply trying to make a living.

According to the chief, the whole situation stemmed from a misunderstanding and the refusal of the police taskforce to hear the ‘innocent’ community’s side of the story. He says reports of widespread illegal mining are exaggerated, and the task force rushed into a sand-winning site without talking to the community leaders first. “They didn’t ask any questions,” he lamented. “They just started arresting people.”

The chief is particularly concerned about the assembly member, who he says was arrested while simply trying to understand what was happening at the site. “He’s a leader in our community, he was there to help as a mediator. Why arrest him?” To say he was organizing an attack is completely false.” The chief emphasized.

The chief further revealed that the incident and the name calling has since left the community with bad images and worried, which is not supposed to be the case. “We feel intimidated in our own town. All we want is for our people to be released and for authorities to listen to us before taking action. We want to work together to find solutions, not be treated like criminals,” the chief explained, with his voice heavy with emotions.

The chief’s plea is a cry for understanding and fairness. The chief who believes that He hopes that the community’s side of the story exonerate them, said there is the need for the arrested residents to be released. He again called for a more collaborative approach to be taken to address the issue of illegal mining instead of merely attacking community individuals.