Regional News of Monday, 16 January 2006

Source: erastus donkor [love4eras@yahoo.com]

Curfew on Jamasi Town

The Afigya Sekyere District security committee has imposed a three-day curfew on the Jamasi town, following a violent clash between zongo and Asante youth in the area. The DCE for Afigya Sekyere District, Mr. Ben Abankwah who announced the imposition of the curfew at Jamasi yesterday explained that the move has become necessary because reports reaching the security personnel in the district indicate that unidentified people are planning to disturb the calm in the town in the evening after the morning's violent clash.

Meanwhile, the police have arrested 49 people, 12 Asantes and 37 other people believed to be Kotokolis in connection with the violence. The clash between the two factions was said to have come about as a result of what is believed to be a misunderstanding emanating from who should use a football pitch in the area. The police in the early hours of yesterday fired series of warning shots, tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the factions. Reliable sources in Jamasi town told Kapital news that it all started on Tuesday when a misunderstanding broke out between Muslims and Asante youths in the area. The Asantes were alleged to have prevented some youths mainly Kotokolis from the Jamasi Zongo from playing on a major football pitch in the town yesterday which resulted in a clash between the two factions. Meanwhile, the MP for the Afigya Sekyere area, Mr. Hennric David Yeboah who was at the scene yesterday advised the youth to refrain from any acts of violence that wo! uld ruin the peace in the town. The Divisional Commander of the Mampong Police, Chief Supt. Osei Assibey Ahenkan stated his division?s intentions to maintain the police presence in the town to enforce the curfew.