By King Amoah.
A chilling reports emerging from the Nkwanta South Municipality in the Oti Region indicate a burgeoning humanitarian crisis as the Oti Regional Minister, Mr. John Kwadwo Gyapong, is alleged to have ordered a forcible ejection that has turned the once vibrant Keri township into a “desert land.”
At the time of filing this report, a visit to the community by the correspondent revealed a haunting scenes
. The streets of Keri that usually bustle with commercial activity, are now empty. No residents were in sight as many families have been forced to flee, seeking refuge with friends and distant relatives in the neighboring districts.
The mass exodus has left private properties and personal belongings abandoned to the elements with no one to guard the homes asthe town sits in a state of desolation.
Impact on Infrastructure and Public Services:
The fallout from the Minister’s said directive has severely paralyzed the town’s essential services.
Schools and health facilities have been shuttered, bringing academic progress to a standstill.
Healthcare workers including nurses have reportedly been forced to stay home, a situation local observers describe it as a financial loss to the state, as salaries continue to be drawn while services are halted under the Minister’s directive.
As of today, Keri township remains under heavy military guard and further heightening the sense of unease in the municipality.
The Root of the Conflict
Sources suggest that the Minister’s actions were prompted by allegations that Keri serves as a strategic stronghold for the Akyode community.
According to these claims, the town was allegedly being used as an official center to plan movements against other tribes and stir ethnic confusion in the region.
However local residents and leaders tell a different story indicating that while acknowledging longstanding land litigations in the area they maintain that the Akyode citizens and the diverse tribes residing in Keri have historically coexisted peacefully.
They claimed that the sudden massive ejection order issued by the Minister was an escalation that should be ignored there is peace between Akyode citizens and all the tribes I in the area.
Stalled Peace Interventions:
In response to the growing tension, a high level mediation committee was reportedly formed to investigate the matter and restore peace.
This committee allegedly includes a local Roman Catholic Bishop, the Municipal Coordinating Council, the Municipal Police Command, and the Municipal Assembly.
Despite these interventions, reports indicate that the Regional Minister is allegedly dragging his feet regarding the withdrawal of the ejection order.
This perceived reluctance has led to an outcry, as millions of cedis worth of property and investments on Akyode land continue to waste away in the abandoned township.
A Plea for Presidential Intervention:
Efforts to reach Mr. John Kwadwo Nyaponh for his side of the story was unsuccessful at the time of publication as calls and inquiries went unanswered.
Left with few options, the displaced residents of Keri are passionately appealing to His Excellency the President of Ghana to intervene. They are calling for an immediate investigation into the Minister’s actions and the restoration of their freedom to allow them to return to their homes and rebuild their lives.
Stay tuned.
Attached images are the regions minister and some houses on the verge of collapse covered with bush
