Ayawaso elders condemn attack
The elders and leaders in the Ayawaso North Constituency have described as unfortunate the actions of some enraged youth of the area which resulted in the destruction of property worth thousands of Ghana cedis last Saturday evening.
Advertisement
They said the gory incident, which resulted in the violent attack on Marwako Fast Food and The Al-Hajj newspaper was a dastardly act “and we unequivocally condemn it in the strongest possible way”.
Speaking on behalf of the elders at a press conference in Accra yesterday, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Ayawaso North, Alhaji Dr Ahmed Mustapha, said it was beyond belief that in the Holy month of Ramadan rampaging youth in the community would take the law into their own hands and perpetuate “this heinous crime against their own people”.
He said it was evident from all accounts that the youth deliberately took advantage of the unfortunate volatile situation to loot and vandalise property worth several thousands of Ghana cedis.
Reason for press conference
Some enraged youth of Mamobi in Accra beat up a policeman last Saturday night after he had shot a taxi driver whom he suspected to be a car snatcher in the area.
The policeman, whose identity is yet to be disclosed by the police, is in critical condition at the Police Hospital.
The taxi driver, Osei Kwame, is also struggling for his life at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.
The angry youth also vandalised the property of Marwako Fast Food Limited, where the policeman had sought refuge around 10 p.m. last Saturday.
Other Trending Stories
They burnt down a delivery van belonging to the company and smashed two vehicles belonging to Alhaji Bature Iddrisu, the Managing Editor of the Al-Hajj newspaper.
Worrying situation
Alhaji Mustapha said the situation was even more worrying when one considered the fact that the hoodlums destroyed two vehicles belonging to Alhaji Bature and set ablaze a van belonging to Marwako Fast Food.
“So far, we can confirm to you that Marwako Fast Food, Alhaji Bature or any of the workers never acted in any manner whatsoever to warrant this despicable act of violence,” he said.
He said the crime of Alhaji Bature, who is a senior member of the community and manages Marwako Fast Food, was to provide sanctuary for a policeman, who was alleged to have shot a taxi driver, from being lynched by the rampaging mob.
Support investigations
Alhaji Mustapha said despite the destruction which had since raised some security concerns in the area, “we would like to assure the business community and corporate organisations operating at Nima, Mamobi and the Ayawaso Constituency in general of our unflinching support”.
He said the leaders of the community would liaise with the security agencies to flush out “these miscreants in our society”.
Appeal to police
As part of measures to protect businesses and institutions situated in the Maamobi community, Alhaji Mustapha appealed to the police and other security agencies to increase their patrols in the area.
“We will support the police to apprehend and deal with the miscreants to serve as a deterrent to others and help maintain a friendly atmosphere in the constituency,” he said.
He also pledged to support the revival of the watchdog committees, which are now dormant, to deal with some of those unfortunate and shameful incidents that occurred in the community.
“We also wish to assure our brother and colleague Alhaji Bature and his affable staff of our support in this trying moment. May Allah replenish their loss in double folds,” he added.