The Gbi Traditional Council has recounted how the Police killed two 'innocent souls', vandalised property and lifted shops on Wednesday 30th August 2023, during a clash between the Police and residents of Gbi Godenu in the Hohoe Municipality of the Volta Region. 

Addressing a press conference in Hohoe, the Divisional Chief of Gbi Wegbe, Togbe Keh XII narrated that last Wednesday’s unfortunate incident brings the number to three, natives who have been killed by the Police between December 2022 and September 2023. 

He corroborated an eyewitness account that the Police knocked a motorcycle rider into a gutter at Gbi Godenu, whom they were chasing on suspicion of trafficking wee. The suspect was rushed to the Ho Teaching Hospital by the police who abandoned their official vehicle in the gutter.

“Reinforcement of Police detachment was called to the scene only to notice that the Police Vehicle (Pick-up) was in flames. This angered the Police officers who stormed Gbi-Godenu town and vandalized properties and set fire to 41 motorbikes, smashing seven cars, one tractor, breaking into shops destroying fridges, shelves and looted items in the shops. 

"As a result of the mayhem, people have to flee amid sporadic shootings. Teachers were assaulted and their mobile phones smashed, school pupils were threatened with guns and locked up in their classrooms. Twelve innocent men were arrested in the mayhem. This uncalled-for mayhem had spilling effects on Gbi-Wegbe and Gbi-Kledzo”, he narrated. 

Togbe Keh XII lamented that incidents of police brutality against natives of the Gbi Godenu, Kledzo, Atabu, and Kpoeta Divisions in the southern part of the Gbi Traditional Area are alarming.

He therefore registered the Gbi Traditional Council’s displeasure on the “unprofessional misconduct” of Police personnel stationed in the area who went unpunished. 

“From our standpoint of view, the Police in the Gbi Traditional Area act with entrenched impunity because past killings and brutalities have not been investigated and the culprits prosecuted or punished for their unprofessional conducts”, he stressed. 

He, on behalf of the Gbi Traditional Council and Gbi Paramount Chief, Togbega Gabusu VII, entreated President Akufo-Addo to set up an independent committee of inquiry to investigate the unwarranted harassment and killings in the area. 

He added that “the findings, your Excellency, hopefully should be made available to the Gbi State within ninety (90) days from the date of this press conference.”

Some residents who were present at the press conference held placards which read "Hohoe needs professional policemen, government take action now or else", "Police stop playing double game in the wee hub", and "Stop the police brutality against our people."