Mankessim Cries

BARELY 48 hours after students of the University of Ghana, Legon, demonstrated against government over increase in tuition fees, residents of Mankessim in the Mfantseman West Municipality of the Central Region also staged a massive demonstration to call on government to increase the number of police personnel in the area to protect them against serial killings that have recently rocked the area. So far, four people are said to have been killed within the past two weeks, with vital parts of some of the bodies missing in a manner suggestive of ritual killings. The police have however disputed the claim of serial killings. The demonstration, which attracted hundreds of people including students, began from Skuulkessim, a suburb of Mankessim and ended at the Mankessim lorry station. The demonstrators, who wore red bands chanting war songs, held placards which had inscriptions such as �Peace! Come to Mankessim�, �Stop The Killings, Killers�, �The Killings Must Stop�, �Government, Help Increase Police Force�, �We Want STX Houses�, �Hotels, Screen All Visitors.� Others included �Mr. IGP, We Want More Police�, �Mankessim Has 45,000 Population, Police Force 15 Why? �Our Life Is At Risk�, �We Want Light At Mankessim Station� and many more. Addressing the demonstrators, the Queenmother of Mankessim Traditional Area, Nana Ama Amissah III, expressed worry about how Mankessim had quickly been taken over by serial killers who did not spare anyone. According to her, because Mankessim was known for its numerous trading activities as one of the biggest market centers in the country, serial killers had taken that advantage to ply their trade in the town for rituals. She noted that for about two weeks, the area had recorded about three deaths which normally occurred at the Mankessim lorry station. Nana Amissah III attributed the cause to the inadequate police personnel in the area. A resolution issued and signed by the Omankrado of Mankessim Traditional Area, Nana Opoku Akwaa II, stated that the elders and people of Mankessim would not cover, protect and safeguard any person or group of persons caught in any act that would disturb the peace and security of the town. Nana Akwaa III charged the police to exhibit professionalism since the youth in the area had almost lost all trust in them (the police). The Municipal Commander of Police, Emmanuel Odonkor, appealed to the youth to have trust in the police and urged them to support the police by relaying information to them to help them act effectively and efficiently. He promised them his outfit�s resolve to intensify their daily patrols to prevent any unwanted occurrence in the days ahead.