Attack on me was masterminded - Minister

Ho, June 5, GNA - The botched attempt by an intruder to attack the Volta Regional Minister, Mr Kofi Dzamesi at his official residence last Monday was said to be masterminded, intelligence reports suggested.

"It was part of a grand design to destabilize the region," Mr Dzamesi who was not at the residency at the time of the incident told newsmen at a briefing after an emergency Regional Security Council meeting on Wednesday.

He maintained that, intelligence was aware of plans to attack all political heads and heads of departments in the region and create an atmosphere of insecurity in the region.

The intruder identified as Dzikunu Agbale, on Monday night broke into the Minister's residence by defying orders of the security and enters his apartment by breaking the main door to his seating room where he attacked and inflicted wounds on the Minister's son and two drivers. Agbale who was eventually killed in a confrontation with the Police allegedly shot and stabbed the Ho Municipal Police Commander, Mr Theophilous Tetteh-Nartey in the abdomen and the shoulder in an attempt to overpower him (Agbale).

Mr Tetteh-Nartey was rushed to the Volta Regional Hospital in a very critical condition and later transferred to the 37 Military Hospital on Wednesday at the instance of Mr Dzamesi.

Mr Dzamesi said the attack on his residence was just "a tip of the ice-berg".

He said for Agbale to come as far as his apartment that night indicated that security around the residency is weak adding, "this is an eye-opener".

Mr Dzamesi said the incident would be thoroughly investigated to be able to get to the bottom of the matter.

Mr Dzamesi said adequate security measures have been taken and these would be updated regularly to ensure maximum security in the region in the run-up to and after the December 2008 general elections.