The Overlord of the Waala Traditional Area, Naa Fuseini Seidu Pelpuo IV, has issued a strong condemnation of the recent murders that have rocked the Wa Municipality.
The tragic events, which occurred on June 18, 2024, resulted in the death of two private security men, plunging the region into grief and fear.
In a statement, Wa Naa Fuseini Seidu Pelpuo IV emphasized the need for community vigilance and cooperation with security forces to prevent further tragedies.
“Fellow natives of the Waala State, I greet you with a very heavy heart,” began Wa Naa Fuseini Seidu Pelpuo IV. “Once again, the peace and tranquillity of our State has been shattered by news of the gruesome murders of two of our grandfathers, fathers, brothers, and husbands.”
The Overlord emphasized that this was not the first time such an incident had occurred, pointing to a broader systemic failure involving state security, traditional authorities, and the residents of the Municipality.
“What has happened is a systemic failure. The fault is at the doorsteps of the State Security apparatus, the traditional authorities, and more especially, residents in the Municipality,” he said.
Naa Fuseini Seidu Pelpuo IV stressed the importance of community involvement in ensuring security. “While the State Security apparatus is responsible for maintaining peace and security, it can only succeed if we support it with relevant information. The perpetrators of these heinous murders live among us. They can hardly commit these murders without being noticed by one or a number of people. The fact is, for inexplicable reasons, we shield them.”
In his statement, the Overlord reported that a joint meeting between the Traditional Council and the Regional Security Committee (REGSEC) was held.
He added that the following measures were put in place for immediate implementation to ensure that no more lives are lost: beefing up security with support from the Headquarters of the Security Services; increasing security patrols and visibility in the Municipality; providing lighting in all dark areas of the Municipality; and ensuring that security personnel work with a team of hardworking neighborhood watch volunteers.
Wa Naa Fuseini Seidu Pelpuo IV highlighted the urgency of addressing past unresolved cases to bolster community confidence. “We cannot fight against fresh murders if we have no idea of what happened to those people apprehended after the previous ones. This has, to a large extent, dampened the spirit of volunteerism in many people,” he noted, adding that the Police Command has promised to provide updates on the investigations.
The Overlord also called for greater cooperation between National Security details and local teams familiar with the area.
“Security is a shared responsibility. Landlords and hoteliers should report guests who go out only at night for investigation. Henceforth, the maxim should be ‘See Something, Say Something’.”
Wa Naa Fuseini Seidu Pelpuo IV assured the public that these measures, along with others not disclosed for security reasons, are being implemented to restore peace and safety.
“We are, therefore, calling on all of you to remain calm but vigilant. Go about your work without fear, but with vigilance. Above all, support the system put in place with valuable information and the Wala State will be free of these heartless criminals,” he concluded.
