Youth attacks Immigration Service personnel at Leklebi

Hohoe, July 22, GNA - Youth groups from the Leklebi-Dafor community in the Hohoe Municipality have attacked personnel of the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) on duty at the Ghana/Togo border and vandalized their property.

Deputy Commissioner of Police David Ampah-Bennin, the Volta Regional Police Commander, told the GNA that a scuffle ensued between personnel of the GIS and one George Addai after he had ignored warnings and drove into Leklebi Kame beyond the "no man's land" on July 14.

He said officers, who were infuriated by the action of Addai, barricaded the barrier refusing him entry.

Mr Ampah-Bennin said Addai tore the uniform of Mr Samuel Adu Dickson, the officer in-charge and hit his nose, resulting in bleeding. This led to his arrest.

He said the arrest of Addai sparked protestation from the youth who attacked anything in sight including louver blades, satellite antennae, Electricity Company of Ghana meters and personal effects.

Mr Ampah-Bennin said some suspects wielding a pistol returned to the border post on July 16 and threatened to kill security personnel.

Mr Victor-Hermann Condobrey, the Hohoe Municipal Chief Executive, condemned the emerging phenomenon and described it as a national security threat.

He warned the youth groups that the security of the area would not be mortgaged for indiscipline and said those involved in the attacks should hand over themselves to the Police or have themselves to blame.

Youth gangs in communities along Ghana's eastern frontier with Togo have been launching attacks on border security personnel of late.

There had been attacks on Customs, Excise and Preventive Service and GIS personnel in Tinjase in the Nkwanta North District and an attack on CEPS by smugglers at Wli-Afegame.