Omanghana
Former Gomoa Central Member of Parliament Rachel Florence Appoh has criticized the constituency’s current MP, Kwame Asare Obeng, popularly known as A-Plus, over his handling of the unrest that resulted in three deaths and left 19 people injured, including a police officer.
Speaking on Accra-based Neat FM, the former Deputy Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection accused A-Plus of exercising poor judgment and adopting a confrontational leadership style that allegedly contributed to the violence.
Appoh called on the MP to “bow his head in shame,” arguing that he had failed to show sufficient remorse for the lives lost during the disturbances.
“Your mistake killed three people and injured 19 others. It is his mistakes that have led to the death of three people,” she said.
Appoh claimed that A-Plus had admitted that police permission was not obtained before a demonstration connected to the dispute was organized. She questioned why the protest was supported without adequate coordination with the police, considering the possibility of violence and injuries.
The controversy follows deadly confrontations involving residents of Gomoa Oguaakrom and New Winneba in the Central Region over a longstanding land and boundary dispute.
Three people were killed during the violence, while nearly 20 others were reportedly taken to hospital with gunshot wounds and other injuries. The incident prompted the deployment of additional police personnel and led to several arrests.
Appoh also rejected allegations that she had sided with Winneba against the interests of Gomoa Central. She described comments reportedly made by A-Plus during a separate media interview as malicious propaganda intended to undermine her record as the constituency’s first MP.
She further accused A-Plus of failing to consult former leaders who had previously managed tensions in the area through dialogue and legal processes.
According to Appoh, five demonstrations were held during her tenure without recording any injuries or deaths. She argued that this demonstrated the importance of involving security agencies and other relevant institutions when addressing sensitive community disputes.
Appoh urged chiefs, traditional leaders, the Lands Commission and state security agencies to work together to resolve the matter through lawful and peaceful channels.
She also appealed to residents to remain calm and avoid retaliatory actions, stressing that no parcel of land was worth the loss of human life.
The claims against A-Plus represent Appoh’s account of the events and have not been independently established.
Source: Omanghana
