Members of Atwima Kwanwoma District Assembly in Ashanti Region want presidential probe into events that left three people dead and several others injured at Foase.
They are questioning the use of live ammunition by police in controlling unarmed rioting residents over the siting of a district capital.
Presiding Member, Emmanuel Asuah Dadzie, told the press that the fatalities could have been avoided if police had acted professionally.
Three people have died after police fired through protesters over attempts to relocate the district from Foase to Twedie.
One of them died on the spot on Wednesday while the others gave up later at the hospital, the last of them on Friday.
Read more: PHOTOS: 2 killed in protest over relocation of district capital at Foase
Two of seven people currently on admission at the Komfo Anokye Hospital Accident and Emergency Center are said to be in critical condition.
Residents of Foase accuse police of targeting them, describing their action as professional misconduct.
“We are, this morning, appealing to government as a matter of urgency to constitute a committee to find out what necessitated the killing of three individuals and several others who got injured in Foase on that fateful day of 7th February 2018, ” Emmanuel Dadzie said.
The press conference was nearly marred when some residents of Foase invaded the venue to demand that members retract an earlier account they gave about the events that heralded last week’s disturbances.
Proceedings were delayed for some minutes, forcing the spokesperson and member for Kokoben Rockson Owusu Afriyie, to abandon his post.
Later, when calm was restored, Presiding Member, Emmanuel Dadzie, took charge of the programme.
Read Also: PHOTOS: Security personnel in Foase shooting to face sanctions
The 48-member assembly appears to have sided with residents in their condemnation of police and called for a probe.
“It is sad to note that, the police in modern day anti-riot combat could still consider the use of live bullet as their best method.
“We think that it would not be out of place if appropriate compensation is advanced to affected families to relieve them of huge financial burdens in such situations.”
The assembly members are unhappy there has been little or no stakeholder engagement on the relocation of the district capital from Foase to neighboring Twedie by government.
“We cannot understand why the plan from Minister of Local Government and Rural Development was not made clear so that all stakeholders would be consulted.
We believe that if proper exit plan has been put in place, the story would have been different,” the statement said.
 
 




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