The Regent of Dagbon, Kampakuya-Na Andani Yakubu Abdulai, has condemned the clashes that occurred between the Konkombas and Dagombas at Agbogbloshie, a suburb of Accra.

The clash has resulted in two deaths with several injured as over 30 persons have also been displaced. A total of five persons were picked up in relation to the deadly clash between Dagombas and Konkombas at Agbogbloshie on Tuesday, April 11. Locally manufactured weapons were retrieved from some of the suspects now in police custody.

A statement released by the Regent of Dagbon said: “As the Regent of the Great Dagbon Kingdom and Acting President, Dagbon Traditional Council, on my own behalf and on behalf of the chiefs, elders and citizens of Dagbon, I wish to strongly condemn the acts of violence perpetuated by some lawless people and criminals at the Agbogbloshie market on the 11th day of April, 2017.

The information received so far indicates that some people have died and others have sustained various degrees of injury as a result of the violent conduct of some individuals. I wish to express my deepest condolences to the bereaved family. I also wish the injured speedy recovery.

“The cause of the violence is that someone is alleged to have stolen an item from a market woman and was beaten up by a mob. Subsequently, that person led some people to another person's shop and pointed him out as one of those who beat him up. It is from here that the violence and destruction of lives and property started. The sequence of events, as narrated, clearly points out to acts and conducts which amount to the commissioning of crime and lawlessness.

“It is important for Ghanaians to appreciate the need to distinguish crime from other considerations such as ethnicity or tribe in order to allow the law to deal with persons who commit crime in our country. It is unfortunate and sad for the police and the press to cover criminal actions with tribal or ethnic connotations.

We live in a country where there is rule of law and respect for human rights of individuals. Therefore, the police, the press, and the members of the general public should recognise and treat anyone who commits crime as a criminal who is acting on his/her own accord and not to link him/her to a tribe.

“In my capacity as the Regent of Dagbon and Acting President, Dagbon Traditional Council, I wish to reiterate that there is a cordial relationship between Dagombas and other ethnic groups within the kingdom. Let me take this opportunity to say that Dagombas and Konkombas are peace-loving people and they are not at war with each other.

Therefore, what happened at Agbogbloshie in Accra should not be generalised and linked to any tribe. I am calling on the police to arrest all persons involved in perpetuating the violence for investigation and prosecution in accordance with the laws of the country.”