The Police in the Eastern Region is on the lookout for one Emmanuel Jamartey, who is reported to have instigated last Friday’s violent demonstration in Somanya.
Hundreds of angry residents in the town took over the offices of the Electricity Company of Ghana and vandalised parts of the building, after demonstrating over what they describe as outrageous electricity bills.
One of the affected residents said he was recently billed GH¢45,000 from the GH¢100 he last paid for his domestic power consumption.
The Police say Mr. Jamartey acted unlawfully rallying the demonstrated to embark on the demonstration that ended in the destruction of property.
According to the Eastern Regional PRO of the Ghana Police Service, ASP Ebenezer Tetteh, is a currently a suspect and his arrest will help the police carry out proper investigation into the matter.
“So a manhunt is on. Following the incident, some personnel were deployed from the Regional police headquarters and we are looking for the prime suspect, ringleader, Ebenezer Jamartey. He was the brain behind the demonstration that turned riotous. It was a spontaneous action by the group we need to get this person arrested. We can get to the bottom of this matter. Somebody ought to be punished,” he said.
ASP Ebenezer Tetteh also called on the public to volunteer information that will lead to the arrest of the suspect.
Meanwhile, the Electricity Company of Ghana has denied the responsibility of the abnormal electricity bill issued to residents in the area.
Meanwhile, the Public Relations Officer of Tema area of ECG under whose jurisdiction Somanya falls, Theresa Osabutey told ECG that “What we know is that they were being billed by VRA, and the meters they were using, at a point, they [VRA] came around to replace the meters and when they replaced the meters the customers started complaining that they are paying more than they used to pay,” she said.
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