Ahwiaa communal clashes leaves one person dead

Communal clashes at Ahwiaa in the Kwabre East District of the Ashanti Region have taken a toll on socio-economic activities.

A group of young people in the peri-urban community last Monday slashed the throat of a 21-year-old man, Osman Musah, killing him instantly.

The act led to clashes between Muslim youth and the indigenes during which 60 youth from both sides were arrested by the police.

A visit to Ahwiaa by Graphic Online on Tuesday revealed that all schools, many shops and offices were shut while a number of people were indoors.

There was presence of armed police officers.

Monday night’s clashes led to three persons sustaining various degrees of cutlass wounds. They were in life threatening situation at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital.

Although there was a heavy police presence in the area before Monday’s attacks, the attackers managed to outwit them and pounced on their victims.

Incensed by what they called bias media reportage and prejudice on the part of the security agencies, the Zongo Youth on Tuesday at a press conference stated that in the last six years, 10 of their people have been killed and yet the media always painted the Zongo youth as the aggressors.

They said media reportage after the killing of Musah was an example of the bias against the Zongo youth.

The Convener of the Ahwiaa Zongo Youth, Mr Zuraka Mohammed, accused the police of finding the youth in the Zongo an easy prey and moved to arrest them even when they were under attack.

“All the killings occurred in Asante Line in the teak plantation. Go there and arrest the criminals and stop pretending to be enforcing order in Ahwiaa Zongo; we are not tugs and we are not criminals,” he said.

In an interview with Graphic Online, the District Chief Executive for Kwabre East, Nana Osei Assibey expressed worry at the development because after some clashes about a month ago, the matter was settled with an agreement on a nine- point road map for peace.

He said details of the road map had been executed and the construction of a police station in the area had been completed and that they were looking for accommodation for the officers who would man the station.

He confirmed that 60 more youth arrested were being screened by the police and that those found to be involved in the disturbances would be prosecuted.

Nana Assibey said both attacks - the one leading to the death of Musah and the reprisal one - took place when the security were around but happened at their blind side and gave the assurance that the security on the ground would be beefed up.