Controversial Ellembelle DCE Tamed!!!

Controversial District Chief Executive (DCE) of Ellembelle, Kwasi Bonzoh, has found himself at the wrong side of the law, after he was embroiled in issues of illegal mining activities and missing excavator scandal in his area. 

The DCE, who has been on a warpath with the police in the area, was arrested yesterday morning for organizing thugs to attack the police during a special operation to retrieve one of the missing excavators.

He was picked up, reportedly handcuffed and bundled into a waiting vehicle and whisked away to the Western regional police command at Secondi, where he was detained.

MrBonzoh, who was behind bar as at the time of going to press yesterday, was arrested together with four others, including his personal assistant.

He was charged with conspiracy to commit crime, resisting arrest, among others; but was however denied bail, according to his lawyer, SalomeyAbakah.

Speaking on Accra-based Joy Fm on Newsnight monitored by The Anchor, the lawyer stated that her client was traumatized and looked a little bit shaky, due to the manner the issue had degenerated.

MrBonzoh’s arrest was effected meters away from the Axim junction after he had attempted to verify whether or not an excavator being transported was the same as the ones that were being looked for by both him and the Police.

Reports say, the DCE was on his way to Sekondi for a radio programme when he received a tip-off that a brand-new excavator was being escorted on the Ellembelle road.

Upon hearing the latest development, eyewitnesses said the DCE hurriedly followed up to Ayisakrom in the district.

There, Kwasi Bonzoh was said to have confronted the driver of the vehicle carrying the excavator.

While trying to find out where the excavator was being transported to, some plain-clothed officers in a white pick-up and Nissan patrol car, came out and a confrontation ensued.

The DCE was then bundled into a police waiting vehicle and transported to the headquarters in Sekondi.

Meanwhile, police have confirmed the arrest of Mr.Bonzoh.

In a post on it social media page, the service explained that a team of operations and intelligence officers working day and night discovered the missing excavator several kilometres into a forest within the Ellembelle District.

“The Police through days of intelligence operations yesterday, September 6, retrieved one of the excavators that were reported missing from Ellembelle.”

The statement further explained that “while the team of police officers were escorting the excavator to Takoradi, at the Axim Junction, the DCE of Ellembelle, Mr Kwasi Bonzohorganised and led some thugs to attack the police and obstruct the operation.

The DCE and three others were therefore arrested accordingly.”

Investigation continues to recover the other excavator.

It would be recalled prior to the latest arrest, Mr.Bonzoh, his personal assistant, and one other person, were placed under police investigation for the disappearance of two mining excavators in the district.

According to media report, the DCE whose area has been embroiled in illegal mining activities, was chasing after the missing excavator following claims that the two machine reportedly left in the care of the Police had gone missing.

Two excavators were seized on Tuesday, August 30, by a combined team of members of the Ellembelle District Mining Committee and District Security Council meters away from the Nkroful Agriculture Senior High School for engaging in illegal mining.

But for some strange reason, the two earth moving machines went missing without trace.

Even though one has been found, security agents are still searching for the remainder while MrBonzoh remains with the Police.

This is not the first time MrBonzoh has been involved in issues concerning illegal mining notoriously known as ‘galamsey’.

In July this year, The Anchor reported how the DCE in a lengthy statement disputed accusation by a runaway Nkroful Magistrate Her Worship AwoAmissah who claimed that her life was threatened due to illegal mining in the area especially behind her bungalow.

Source: Anchorghana