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A Coalition of youth groups in Krobo, Kloma Gbi and Kloma Hengme have called on President Akufo-Addo to suspend the installation of the prepaid meters in the Krobo land and withdraw the military.

Speaking to Joshua Kodjo Mensah on Starr Today Tuesday, a leading member of the group, Isaac Tamatey indicated that continuing the installation of prepaid meters in the Krobo land will worsen the clashes between residents and the military in the area.

According to him, the use of brute force and the military by the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) for the installation of prepaid meters will rather worsen the situation in the area.

“The future should be further engagement and giving the people education and sensitization to understand the prepaid meters and how it works better. Clearly, any attempt to continue the use of the military or use brute force if we don’t take care may continue with further bloodshed.

“The whole prepaid meter installation exercise is failing for reasons that are obvious and it is a surprise to us that, to date, no proper national probe has been initiated to unravel the circumstances that triggered the situation at hand, assess the fallouts, and to fashion a more realistic road map and a humane approach to the rollout of the meters and, by extension, a resolution of the main issues,” Mr Tamatey explained.

He continued: “We are urging the people of Nuaso and the Krobo state to remain calm and calling on President Akuffo-Addo, to order the discontinuation of the prepaid meter installation exercise without further delay. An immediate withdrawal of the military because of the foreseeable ripples the exercise stands to generate, and the initiation of a formal national probe of the issue to avert the looming but preventable disaster.”

Background

Residents of Odumase Krobo in the Eastern Region on Monday, August 22, 2022, alleged that they were being brutalized by some military personnel.

The residents also started mobilizing on the streets of Odumase Krobo right from Nuaso community and they are chanting songs while the military and police are patrolling the area.

Meanwhile, the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) in response to the alleged military attacks on residents have said nothing about what happened at Nuaso on Monday, August 22, 2022.

“In Nuaso Old Town, there was resistance. One woman threatened to pour hot oil on the ECG personnel and the Military as well.

“A crowd started amassing around one ECG Team. The Military was able to retrieve a cutlass from one of those who were amassing around the ECG people,” ECG narrated.

According to ECG, there have been reports of constant verbal abuses and attacks on the personnel doing the installation in Nuaso Old Town.

“The Team has withdrawn from Nuaso Old Town. ECG condemns these attacks and unfortunate situations. We keep calling for peace and calm so we can discharge our duties peacefully.”

Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM