Former President Jerry John Rawlings has said the recent killings in Sogakope in the South Tongu District of the Volta region are as a result of weak punishment regimes for culprits of such crimes.

An assembly member, Marcus Mawutor Adzahli, who doubles as a mobile money merchant, was shot and killed at his residence, sparking some riot by the youth of the area resulting in a clash with the police.

Reports say the assailants, numbering about eight, stormed the victim’s house wielding guns and cement blocks whilst firing gunshots.

A total bounty of GHc60, 000 has been placed on the heads of the killers for informants whose information can lead to the arrest of the murderers.

Though three suspects have been arrested in connection with the murder, former President Jerry John Rawlings who has pledged an amount of GHc25,000 in reward for informants has asserted that such killings occur because perpetrators know they won’t pay for their crimes with their lives.

“I think some of these things happen because some of the killings that have been going on in this country and especially in this area are not being dealt with appropriately, so people feel they can do things like that with impunity and get away with it, knowing they will not pay the price with their lives as well” he said in an address in Sogakope at the 63rd Independence Day celebration.

The former President explained among other reasons that his decision to avail himself for the independence anniversary in the Volta region was to empathize with residents of the area who have been traumatized by the development.