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General News of Friday, 10 January 2020

Source: www.ghanaweb.com

Menzgold picketing: The anger, fury and tears

Angry customers at NAM1's residence play videoAngry customers at NAM1's residence

As over 200 customers of the defunct gold dealership, Menzgold gathered to picket the company’s CEO’s Trasacco residence, there were some interesting scenes that GhanaWeb’s lenses captured.

From carrying their traveling bags and pillows to exhibiting their toothbrushes, sponges, towels and other bath essentials, the aggrieved customers proved they were ready to spend days at NAM1’s residence if the police hadn’t ‘disrupted’ their plans.

The angry customers gathered at Shiashie, where two VIP buses and a minibus were ready to convey them to their destination.

One customer who was captured busily brushing his teeth before they set off for Trasacco said he set off from Kumasi at 12 am.

To prove they were for peace, the determined group parked the buses around the Zoomlion office and continued to the main gate of the estate on foot.

Though generally peaceful, some peeved customers were heard lamenting about the situation on the ground whilst others rained curses on NAM1.

“Today we will also sleep where he sleeps with his wife,” a woman said while carrying a huge traveling bag on her head.



The situation at Nana Appiah’s residence

Initially, two security guards of Trassaco valley tried to stop the customers from passing through the main gate but it resulted in a “prison break” situation as they were pushed aside as these irritated customers forced the main gate open.

“He can run but he can’t hide,” some of them chanted as they finally arrived at NAM1’s residence.

"Until he pays me, I will never leave here," Another said.



How it ended in tears

The group’s anger was taken to the next level when warning shots were fired from NAM1’s house. Some, in turn, threw stones at the gate.

Police personnel shortly arrived at the scene with 8 patrol cars to disperse the crowd and bring the situation under control.

Upon seeing the vehicles, the crowd scattered in several directions as the Police began to make arrests for unlawful entry into a private residence as well as demonstration without seeking appropriate clearance.

The police personnel, led by Head of Operations Command, Supt. Kwasi Ofori rounded up 90 of the customers after the others took to their heels.

They finally got hold of them, “packed them” into the bucket of the police van and drove them straight to the police station.



But before they drove off, the officers, led by ACP Kwesi Fori made time to share handshakes and a short conversation with the Togolese football star, Emmanuel Adebayor, who is also a resident of Trasacco valley and had come out to check what was happening after hearing the gunshots.