Regional News of Wednesday, 16 February 2011

Source: Samuel Dowuona

Zongo Boys Assault Motorist During Islamic Funeral

Reports reaching Adom News indicate that more than 100 Zongo boys riding on motor bikes today caused heavy traffic and bullied motorists around the Kawukudi junction just to make way for them to go bury a corpse.
Nana Debrah of Adom FM Sales Department was at the scene and said his car head light was scratched by the bullish motor riders and another motorist who challenged them was beaten up by two Zongo boys.
Nana told Adom News the bullish Zongo boys caused traffic for a period of about one hour because they were going to bury their dead, and they threatened to beat up anyone who dared moved his car into their path.
“I can’t understand why such lawlessness should be happening in our country at this time, and I am wondering whether the police are aware and they are not acting or they are simply not aware,” he said.
Nana said at some point the police showed up on the scene and the boys just drove off on seeing the police, but no arrests were made.
This is not the first time Zongo boys have bullied and beaten motorist on their way to bury their dead.
A similar incident occurred at Abossey Okai traffic light when some Zongo boys even pushed a police officer and beat up some motorist to make way for them to pass with their dead from the Korle-bu Mortuary.
Renown Ghanaian Moslem Cleric and Scholar, Sheik Ishaak Nuamah categorically condemned the act and described it as “madness” and disturbance of the public peace.
He said the practice is completely foreign to Islam religion and the Moslem leadership in Ghana has warned the Zongo youth several times in various forums to quit it but they just won’t budge.
“This thing might have been started by one individual and it has come to stay as if it is part of our religion but it is not,” he said.
“If any of those youth were put before an Islamic court they would not get less than 80 lashes for causing public disturbance,” he said.
Sheik Nuamah said they police must rise up to the occasion and arrest the perpetrators because they are disturbing public peace and it is against the law.
Adom News reached Police Public Relations Director, Superintendant Kwesi Ofori who agreed to speak live on radio on the matter, but when he was reached later he handed over his phone to a female police officer to say he was engaged in another interview so he could not speak on the matter.
ENDS