Togbe Dadzawa III, the paramount chief of the Shia traditional area in the Ho municipality of the Volta Region, has stepped in to mediate a conflict between residents of Shia and the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS). The mediation is scheduled for Tuesday, November 19, at the chief’s palace, with key stakeholders, including the Volta Regional GIS Command and community youth leaders, expected to participate.
The clash occurred on Friday, November 15, when GIS officers and community residents engaged in a confrontation around 4 p.m. Tensions reportedly began the previous day with a personal altercation involving a GIS officer and a woman from Shia, which later escalated into a larger community dispute.
Eyewitnesses allege that the junior officer, stationed in Shia, was involved in a private encounter with the woman, which attracted the attention of nearby Okada (commercial motorcycle) riders due to the woman’s loud cries. The riders reportedly interrupted the encounter, leading to an altercation.
On Friday, the officer is said to have mobilized armed colleagues from Ho to retaliate against the Okada riders who had intervened. The officers arrived in Shia, where they allegedly fired warning shots and used pepper spray to disperse residents. In response, aggrieved youth blocked the main road in the community to prevent the officers’ vehicles from passing.
The clash left two residents injured, who are now receiving treatment at the Shia Health Centre. The Ho Municipal Chief Executive, Divine Bosson, who is also from Shia, condemned the conduct of the GIS as “unprofessional.” He assured residents that he would work with the GIS Command to restore peace.
This incident has heightened tensions in the community, especially as it follows a similar tragedy earlier this year. In January, a 25-year-old Okada rider was fatally shot by a GIS officer in Shia. After prolonged discussions between the deceased’s family and GIS officials, the young man’s funeral was held only recently in Ho.
Residents are calling for immediate action to prevent further violence, emphasizing that Friday’s altercation could escalate if left unresolved. Togbe Dadzawa III and his elders hope the upcoming mediation will diffuse tensions and foster mutual understanding between the GIS and the community.
SOURCE: Albert Kuzor
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