Hon Alidu Seidu and police officers at the Bonjour restaurant to assess the situation
This year’s annual Sallah Jams at the Bonjour Restaurant in Kumasi turned bloody after a Junior High School (JHS) graduate was shot on Tuesday evening.
Osman Abdul Karim, 17, was allegedly shot in the head at about 8pm at close range by unknown assailants who are still at large.
The victim, who bled profusely, is currently receiving treatment at the Emergency Ward of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH).
The police have since not made any arrests in connection with the matter.
The shooting forced the Asokore Mampong Municipal Assembly to ban all social programmes in connection with the Eid-Ul Fitr celebrations in the area.
The MCE for Asokore Mampong, Alhaji Alidu Seidu, said the immediate ban was to prevent the re-occurrence of similar incidents in the municipality.
It would be recalled that close to 10 people in the same municipality lost their lives during similar Sallah Jams at the Asawase Community Center last year.
During that particular incident, there was a stampede at the venue which led to the loss of precious human lives, mostly youth.
According to reports, Abdul Karim was partying with his friends when suddenly he was hit by what looked like a bullet in the head.
The JHS graduate subsequently fell after being hit by the bullet.
He was rushed to the Manhyia Government Hospital and later to KATH.
The shooting, according to reports, caused panic and fear among the merry-makers, most of whom are teenagers.
The Sallah Jams, which was massively attended by Muslim youth who were marking the Eid-Ul Fitr celebrations, suddenly came to a halt.
Chief Supt. Kwaku Buah, the Manhyia Divisional Police Commander, said the police had received information that the gunman was on a motorbike and sped off after the shooting.
The police chief noted that reports reaching the police indicate that the victim fought with a certain boy on the previous day.
The paper’s checks also indicated that some armed young boys were robbing people at the venue at gunpoint and Abdul Karim was shot.
The police capo said the police were closely monitoring the situation, assuring that they would assess all information and work to arrest the culprit.
According to him, the police hierarchy in the area deployed about 13 armed personnel to the venue to maintain law and order.
He said the police cannot be blamed for the unfortunate incident, stressing that this year’s Sallah had been successful in the area.
Alidu Seidu said an emergency MUSEC meeting would be held on Wednesday morning where a ban would be placed on social programmes in connection with the Sallah.
The MCE, who rushed to KATH to visit the victim, called for calm and gave assurance that the security agencies would arrest the culprits from their hideout.
The victim lying in a pool of blood
From I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr., Kumasi