7 Arrested Over Salaga Protest

THE NORTHERN Regional Police Command has arrested seven persons for allegedly vandalizing properties in Salaga following the naming of Damongo as the regional capital for the newly created Savannah Region.

The Northern Regional Police Command said through its Public Affairs Officer that it mounted an early morning operation to arrest the suspects.

The Command indicated that its personnel had to move in yesterday to prevent the protesters from burning down the District Assembly building as well as the DCE’s bungalow.

A police reinforcement team from Tamale had been deployed to Salaga to control the situation.

The violent protest took place yesterday after President Akufo-Addo announced at the Jubilee House in Accra that Damongo had been chosen as the regional capital.

The youth of Salaga who were peeved that their town was not selected as the regional capital vent their spleen by destroying properties and setting a number of houses ablaze.

There were many overriding interests in the selection of the regional capital as DAILY GUIDE NETWORK (DGN) was informed but at the end, Damongo, which is the seat of the Gonjaland Overlord, Yagbonwura Tutumba Bore Esa I, is chosen.

DGN understands that the youth are planning further attacks on Salaga DCE’s residence.

The Constitutional Instrument to create the Savannah Region was presented to the Yagbonwura by President Akufo-Addo yesterday in Accra amid much excitement from chiefs and people of Gonjaland.

The President pledged to ensure the development of the new region which he believed is one of the poorest areas in Ghana.

BY Melvin Tarlue

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