Hon. Joseph Awal Antwi, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Nkwanta South, has confirmed that his own brother was among those killed in the recent resurgence of violence in the area.
The MCE revealed that his brother, who worked as a herdsman, was killed while out in the field grazing his livestock.
Speaking in an interview with Nyankonton Mu Nsem on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM, Hon. Antwi stated that his brother and the other victims were killed approximately six kilometres outside of Nkwanta.
He noted that the deceased have since been buried in accordance with Islamic rites. While the MCE informed the news team that calm has returned to the municipality, he emphasised that authorities are still closely evaluating the security situation.
“I can confirm that my brother was killed while he was on the field grazing. He was a herdsman. He has since been buried in accordance with Islamic rites,” he stated.
Addressing recent demands from the Akyode Youth Association (AYA) for his removal, the MCE described the calls as misplaced and without merit. On March 23, the association submitted a formal demand for the dismissal of both Hon. Antwi and the Oti regional minister, John Kwadwo Gyapong.
The group accused the two officials of abandoning neutrality and openly siding with the Adele and Challa factions, warning that their continued presence in office risks plunging Nkwanta into a deeper crisis.
Hon. Antwi challenged these accusations, questioning why the association would blame him and the regional minister for a long-standing crisis.
He publicly pledged to pursue those responsible for the killings and ensure that justice is served.
“The claims made by the Association are baseless, lack merit, and must be ignored. We are working to ensure that peace returns to the area, and so these types of accusations and needless roar will benefit no one. I was not the MCE when the incident started. I was not the one in charge when they were attacking and setting properties ablaze. The minister was also not in office when these things started. They don’t have any basis. Without fear or favour, we will make sure that peace returns to the area. There are certain things they come out to say without justification, and we should not allow them to misinform people. At the right time, we will revisit this issue. At the end of the day, the truth will come out,” the MCE asserted.
Hon. Antwi served notice that all those responsible for the clashes and the deaths of the departed souls will be arrested and prosecuted.
He expressed deep concern that while authorities had been engaging with investors to establish businesses in the area, lawless individuals had instead gone on a rampage, causing harm and loss of life.
He further stressed that those calling for his removal are not residents or indigenes of the area but are instead using social media to stir confusion and trouble from afar.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
