Member of Parliament for Gomoa Central, Kwame Obeng Asare, popularly known as A Plus, says residents of the area are preparing to stage a major demonstration over the longstanding land dispute between Gomoa and Effutu, following deadly violence at New Winneba that has deepened tensions across the affected communities.
The lawmaker said the situation in the area had returned to relative calm, but residents were increasingly frustrated by what they regard as the authorities’ handling of the dispute and the security response to the latest violence.
The clashes at New Winneba on Tuesday, September 1, left three people dead and several others injured, with the Ghana Police Service confirming that about 15 people were wounded, including a police officer. Police subsequently reinforced security in the area with additional personnel and two armoured vehicles as investigations continued.
Speaking to Citi News on Wednesday, September 2, A Plus said residents were mobilising for a demonstration to demand action over the circumstances surrounding the conflict and what he described as excessive conduct by some police officers during the disturbances.
He alleged that police personnel had used lethal force against some residents during the confrontation. The allegation has not been independently established, and the circumstances surrounding the deaths remain subject to police investigation.
Despite his strong criticism, A Plus said the immediate situation remained calm and indicated that residents intended to pursue their grievances through collective action rather than allow the dispute to deteriorate into further uncontrolled violence.
The Gomoa Central MP also disclosed that he had taken steps before the latest confrontation to obtain an official determination of the boundaries between Gomoa and Effutu in an attempt to address the underlying dispute before it escalated.
According to him, he wrote to the Lands Commission requesting clarification on the respective boundaries and subsequently forwarded the Commission’s response to the Ministry of the Interior, asking the ministry to intervene in relation to the establishment of a police facility in an area he considers disputed territory.
A Plus argued that the naming and location of the Effutu North Police Station had created the impression that the state had taken a position in the longstanding territorial disagreement. He said he had therefore urged the Interior Ministry to review the matter and consider relocating the facility deeper into what he described as undisputed Effutu territory.
His concerns come against the backdrop of a long running dispute over land and boundary claims involving communities associated with Gomoa and Effutu. The latest confrontation reportedly began after a group of about 300 people, allegedly armed with guns, stones, cutlasses and sticks, entered New Winneba and attacked residents, while shops, stores and private residences were damaged.
The scale of the violence has prompted renewed security measures in the area. Police have arrested suspects in connection with the incident, mounted additional checkpoints and intensified patrols to prevent further disturbances.
A Plus has also previously come under pressure from residents during his attempts to engage authorities over the incident. On Tuesday, the MP reportedly narrowly escaped an attack by angry residents after visiting the Effutu North District Police Command to obtain firsthand information about the violence. Security personnel intervened and escorted him away from the facility.
The lawmaker’s proposed demonstration consequently adds a new dimension to an already volatile dispute, particularly as security agencies remain deployed and investigations into the violence continue.
He has not yet announced a specific date, route or formal organisational arrangements for the planned demonstration. However, his call for residents to mobilise reflects growing pressure for the government to provide a definitive resolution to the boundary dispute and address concerns surrounding security and land administration in the affected communities.
The MP has also urged the relevant state institutions to establish clear boundaries between Gomoa and Effutu and ensure that disputes over land are resolved through authoritative legal and administrative processes rather than through confrontation.
For now, the security situation in New Winneba remains under close observation, with authorities maintaining a visible presence to prevent reprisals. Police have appealed to residents to remain calm and cooperate with investigations as efforts continue to establish the full circumstances behind the deadly clashes.
With three lives already lost and tensions surrounding the land dispute continuing to simmer, the proposed demonstration could become a significant test of the government’s ability to contain the situation while addressing the deeper territorial and administrative grievances at the centre of the conflict.
