48 In Court Over Ahwiaa Bloody Riot

A KUMASI circuit court has remanded into custody 38 people over Monday’s violent clashes at Ahwiaa, a community in the Kwabre East municipality of the Ashanti Region.

Ten other suspects were released on bail by the court, presided over by John Ekow Mensah, while investigations continue.

They are Berikayatu Ibrahim, 16; Mustapher Iddrisu, 17; Abdul Razak Nasiru, 18; Abdul Razak Sulemana, 17; Akwasi Amoako, 62; Yaw Acheampong, 61; Gabriel Akwasi Dwumor, 78; Mohammed Khalid, 17; Kofi Ntiamoah, 65 and Faisal Nutatil, 20, final year SHS student who was said to be preparing for an examination.

While each of the aged was granted GH?20,000 bail with one surety, each of the juveniles was granted GH?2,000 bail with one surety.

Police officers are investigating murder and other crimes linked to the violent clashes.

All of the suspects were arrested after clashes between two youth groups at Ahwiaa had left one Musah Kabore dead and three others, including a female teacher, sustaining various degrees of injury.

DAILY GUIDE gathered that one person was butchered during the mayhem.

Several young people were arrested by a joint police and military team deployed to the area to maintain law and order. School children were made to go home as a result of the violence.

The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of the area, Nana Osei Assibey Bonsu, who confirmed the incident, said he received information about the death of one person.

“Actually, I’m surprised about the incident. We did everything within our power to ensure peace at Ahwiaa,” the MCE stated.

He continued, “We had our roadmap…and we followed it. We organized a community durbar, which was attended by the Sariki Zongo, Chief Imam, the chief of Awhiaa and other stakeholders during which we discussed the peace of the area.”

The head of the Municipal Security Council could not fathom why the violence erupted again after the peace talks, and reiterated his commitment to resolving the matter amicably.

The Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei-Mensah, has also announced plans to end bloody clashes that had claimed lives in the region.

The authorities imposed a curfew some few weeks ago to restore peace, following a similar violent clash.

The funeral of a popular teenager in the area was alleged to have caused violence between two youth groups some weeks ago.

It is however, unclear what actually caused the violent clashes on Monday, but some people in the area said the youth decided to launch reprisal attacks.

From Ernest Kofi Adu, Kumasi

 

 

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