General News of Monday, 11 June 2012

Source: GNA

Police/Military reinforcement arrive at Hohoe

A police/military detachment arrived in Hohoe on Monday to beef up security in the municipal area as rampaging Moslem youth roam the streets.

Shops are closed following reports that a jewellery shop had been ransacked by these youths.

The GNA Hohoe Correspondent, stranded at the outskirts of the town, reported that Gbi communities were mobilizing to move into Hohoe to support their kith and kin against the Moslems youths.

Socio-economic activities at Hohoe in the Volta Region have virtually come to a halt, with people staying indoors as rampaging Moslem youth burn houses, including the house of Togbega Gabusu VI, the Paramount Chief of the Gbi Traditional Area.

The youths reportedly ransacked the chief’s house first before setting it ablaze. They then moved to town burning and attacking individuals.

The latest trouble started Monday morning when the body of the Chief Imam buried at the weekend was reportedly exhumed and deposited at the outskirts of the town.

The Ghana News Agency (GNA) correspondent who was on a vehicle going towards Hohoe reported that, all roads to the town had been blocked thus halting vehicular traffic in and out of Hohoe.

Moslem youths last week were reported to have attacked hospital staff in Hohoe, alleging that their negligence caused the death of a colleague.

The traditional authorities, angry at their action, banned the Moslem community from burying their dead on any Gbi (Hohoe) land.

However, a settlement was reached following the intervention of the National Chief Imam, some political leaders and security personnel.

The burial of the local Chief Imam later and its exhumation sparked the latest trouble.**