The Twafohene of Sefwi Sayerano, Nana Kwasi Sampa, has expressed shock over the police shooting incident that claimed two lives and injured two others on Monday.
The unrest reportedly occurred after officers from the Sefwi Wiawso Divisional Police Command entered the community to arrest a suspected drug peddler.
However, the chief says he is surprised by claims linking the suspect to drug-related activities, insisting that the man is only known to operate a provision store.
Speaking in an interview on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, Nana Kwasi Sampa said he had no knowledge of the suspect being involved in the sale of narcotics.
“I know he operates a provision shop. I don’t know that he is into drugs,” he said.
He added that the community has no known challenge with youth drug abuse.
“In the community too, there is no problem with the youth abusing drugs. I am more than 50 years old, and I don’t know that anyone sells drugs in the community,” he stated.
The Twafohene explained that the main challenge the community occasionally faces is related to disagreements with the Forestry Commission over farming activities in forest areas.
“What I know are the issues we occasionally have with the Forestry Commission because of farming in the forests. There were usually misunderstandings, but over time, the DCE and other relevant authorities have intervened for the issue to be resolved,” he explained.
According to the chief, the police personnel stormed the provision shop to search for alleged drugs but found nothing.
He alleged that the man was nevertheless handcuffed, covered with a black polythene bag and beaten while being taken to the police station.
Some community members reportedly attempted to resist the arrest, leading to a confrontation during which the police allegedly opened fire.
The incident resulted in the death of two residents, with a third victim later confirmed dead, bringing the death toll to three. Police investigations into the incident are ongoing.
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