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THE POLICE administration has dispatched armed policemen and a number of armoured cars to protect the Sunon-Asogli plant at Kpone. The decision follows a threat by the youth of Kpone to burn down the plant.

The agitated youth, who are allegedly being pushed by some high profile citizens from the area, did not understand why they must be included in the ongoing load shedding exercise, when they are hosting the Asogli plant and had wanted to hold a news conference to let the public know of their frustrations.

They also alleged that Asogli had reneged all the social agreements it signed with the people of Kpone. The intended press conference was later turned into a street protest, with the Organising Secretary of the Concerned Youth of Kpone, Samuel Owusu Mensah, threatening to burn down the plant when he spoke on Adom FM.

The sudden turn of events forced the police to intervene by firing rubber bullets to disperse the agitated youth who were bent on causing mayhem. The police also managed to rescue the Chief Fisherman of Kpone, Nii Tetteh Ashong II, and one Oglie Tetteh, who were locked and abandoned in the offices of the Traditional Council, after the youth had stormed the place.

The leadership of the demonstrators accused the Traditional Council of selling Tema Development Corporation (TDC) released lands, ignoring the plight of the people who are swimming in abject poverty in the midst of riches.

The Public Relations Officer of Sunon Asogli Power, Dina Delali, however told The Chronicle that it was not the fault of the plant operators that the people of Kpone should experience load shedding.
According to her, the power generated is sold to the Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo), and then to Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), before final distribution to consumers.

She also denied signing any agreement with the Traditional Council as alleged by the demonstrators, and that they only entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU), which is yet to be signed. In the MoU, the traditional authorities were asked to state whether Asogli should complete a Community Centre being built by the KTC, or construct a 2-kilometre first class road, costing $4 million linking the plant and the township via the beach.

The traditional authorities went for the road, which contract has been awarded to CSC Salo International Limited. But before the explanation came, at least, 14 persons had sustained various degrees of injury in a stampede that ensued when police resorted to the use of the teargas and rubber bullets to disperse the crowd, and also free those who had been unlawfully detained in the offices of the Traditional Council.

Earlier on over the weekend, The Chronicle gathered intelligence that the group, Concerned Youth of Kpone, led by Mayor Sannie, intended to draw attention to the operations of Sunon Asogli Power, which they claimed was inimical to the people, and also, the alleged sale of lands the Tema Development Corporation (TDC) had released to the Traditional Council.

The intelligence also has it that some faceless influential persons met with the youth group and re-designed the press conference to rather take the form of a demonstration. The said faceless people, who are prominent people from the area, also promised to procure red clothes, refreshments and media coverage for the demonstration.

Based on this information, The Chronicle contacted the District Chief Executive (DCE), Alhaji Issah Antiaye Tetteh on Monday to find out if he was privy to the plans to demonstrate, but he declined knowledge.

The Kpone District Police Commander, Chief Superintendent Kojo Asante, also denied knowledge of a demonstration, and like the DCE, acknowledged that it was going to be a press briefing
The intelligence, as gathered, became manifest, as by 0700 hours on Tuesday, the township of Kpone was already painted in red, as hundreds of persons, mainly the youth, invaded the streets amid the chanting of war songs.

In the heat of the demonstration, the Organising Secretary of the Concerned Youth of Kpone, Samuel Owusu Mensah, was heard on Adom 106.3 FM being interviewed by Captain Smart, the host, threatening to set ablaze the Chinese multi-million-dollar power plant, because the people of Kpone see no reason why their lights should go off during the load shedding taking place nationwide.

He also accused the Chinese of not fulfilling promises made to them before setting up the plant, a claim which was denied by Asogli.  The Regional Minister, Mr. Joseph Nii Laryea Afotey Agbo, who doubles as the Member of Parliament, (MP) for the area, speaking on the same radio network, appealed to the youth to exercise restraint and allow the Traditional Council to dialogue, rather than resorting to demonstrations.

According to him, the youth claim that pets of residents living close to the plants are either dying or going blind for unexplained reasons. Meanwhile, a source at the national headquarters of the police has hinted The Chronicle that the police administration takes strong exception to the threat by Samuel Owusu Mensah to burn down the Asogli plant, and that they expect the police of the Tema Region to arrest and hand him over to the headquarters for questioning.