BY Daniel Bampoe
The Eastern Regional National Security Liaison Officer, Francis Annoh-Dompreh hasFrancis Annoh-Dompreh has raised alarm over an unsettling rise in wilful murder cases across the region, describing the trend as both worrying and unpredictable.
His concerns were made known during a courtesy visit to the Okyenhene, Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin, at the Ofori Panin Fie Palace in Kyebi, where he was accompanied by his deputies, Alhaji Sumaila Mahama and Abubakar Sadique.
Their mission was to seek strengthened collaboration with traditional authority as security challenges deepen across several communities.
According to Annoh-Dompreh, the Eastern Region—already grappling with illegal mining, land-guard violence, sand winning conflicts, and escalating chieftaincy disputes—is now experiencing a surge in murder cases largely triggered by minor altercations. He noted that individuals increasingly resort to deadly weapons such as guns, knives, and cutlasses to settle disputes, a situation he said was rare in the past. The development, he stressed, has become a major security threat.
He revealed that the Regional Security Council (REGSEC) has begun analyzing the disturbing trend to determine the underlying psychological, economic, and social triggers.
“With just a little provocation, people now kill. Almost every week we record such incidents, and it is difficult to predict when or where the next one will occur,” he lamented. With the Christmas season nearing—a period associated with heavy drinking and heightened social activities—security agencies fear the numbers could rise further.
Annoh-Dompreh also disclosed that many of the security challenges—ranging from galamsey-related violence to land disputes and chieftaincy clashes—fall within the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Area.
He therefore appealed to the Okyenhene for support in resolving these disputes, noting that traditional leadership remains pivotal in maintaining peace and order.
Responding to the concerns, the Okyenhene, Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin, commended the Regional Security Liaison Officers for their proactive approach to addressing the matter.
He linked the rise in murder cases and violent crimes to the moral decay and criminality associated with illegal mining, commonly referred to as galamsey.
The Okyenhene argued that mining communities have become breeding grounds for lawlessness, emboldened by the activities of armed foreign nationals who influence local miners.
He recounted how his own convoy was once attacked with stones by illegal miners, an incident he described as symbolic of the growing boldness and disregard for traditional authority.
According to him, the inability of chiefs to enforce laws—despite being custodians of the land—weakens governance structures within the communities and creates space for criminal elements to thrive.
“Chiefs are regarded as landlords, yet when concessions are given out, we are sidelined. We lack the power to enforce even basic rules in our own jurisdictions,” he said.
The Okyenhene reiterated his long-standing call for the decentralization of mining regulatory institutions to enhance supervision and curb illegal mining activities.
On the issue of chieftaincy disputes, the Okyenhene called on security agencies to enforce decisions made by the House of Chiefs, noting that failure to act on these rulings often fuels parallel claims to authority and sparks conflict.
He assured the security delegation that the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Council has the records and processes to determine legitimate chiefs and is ready to collaborate to restore peace.
