Indefinite curfew imposed on Old Tafo

efua

February 11, 2016 10:24 PM

“Let me put on record that if at a point in time, REGSEC is convinced that there is the need for the curfew to be relaxed, the directive will be issued to the public,” REGSEC spokesperson, Clement Kegeri said.

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The Ashanti Regional Security Council has imposed an indefinite curfew on Old Tafo, a suburb of Kumasi.

According to REGSEC, the decision was informed by intelligence gathered on Thursday.

The Public Relations Officer of the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council, Clement Kegeri in an interview on Radio Ghana said: “The Regional Security Council met and intelligence gathered were analysed and the decision taken is that the curfew should continue until such a time that REGSEC is convinced that people can go about their duties without having to worry about their safety and security.”

Violence broke out on Wednesday between some Muslim youth and loyalists of the Old Tafo Traditional Council over a piece of land at the community’s cemetery.

The clashes claimed one life and injured several others. The situation thus forced REGSEC to impose a curfew on the area.

The person who lost his life during Wednesday’s clashes was to have been buried on Thursday according to Muslim customs but Mr. Kegeri indicated that the Muslim youth in the area “decided to take the law into their own hands and even took a decision to engage violently with the security personnel in the town.”

He said about 40 people have been picked up by the Police and are currently in Police custody.

Mr. Kegeri clarified that although an indefinite curfew has been imposed on the area, “it does not necessarily presuppose that the situation is getting worse but it goes to confirm that the decision taken by the Ashanti Regional Security Council to impose a curfew is a measure that is working.”

He added that the Regional Security Council after the meeting on Thursday “decided to visit the cemetery to find out at first-hand what really the situation is on the ground and I can tell you that intelligence picked from the field suggests that it has become more compelling for the curfew to continue.”

“Let me put on record that if at a point in time, REGSEC is convinced that there is the need for the curfew to be relaxed, the directive will be issued to the public,” he added.

Mr. Kegeri further stated that the Old Tafo residents are complying with the curfew directives “but what is of major concern is that we have every cause to feel that we need to intensify the curfew.”

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