‘Declare curfew at Old Fadama’
Some residents of Old Fadama, a slum in Accra, have called for an immediate curfew to be declared in the area to protect lives and property after the swearing-in of the President-elect, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
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They have also appealed for increased security presence in the area to deal with criminal elements who are allegedly hatching plans to carry out mayhem in the community.
The call is against the backdrop of the uneasy calm among the residents following retaliatory attacks being carried out by a section of the residents believed to be sympathetic to the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
News conference
At a news conference held by the management of the Konkomba Yam Market yesterday, its Secretary, Mr Ezekiel Dannah, said available information showed that some people were bent on carrying out attacks on others after the inauguration of the new President.
“People are ready to settle some outstanding scores. Some blood relations had a bloody confrontation after the 2008 elections, leading to the loss of three lives.
“As we hold this news conference, some people who fear for their lives have left the community,” he said.
Background
The Daily Graphic issue of January 4 carried a story that said the timely intervention by the security agencies prevented a bloody confrontation that could have ensued between some supporters of the NPP and those of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) at the slum.
The NPP supporters are said to have locked up rooms, stores and other facilities occupied by NDC supporters in what was believed to be a retaliation of a similar action carried out after the 2008 elections.
Following the development, a committee, made up of police personnel, opinion leaders, political party leaders and traditional rulers, was set up to look into the issue and address any grievances.
Negative reportage
However, Mr Dannah observed that events that had unfolded gave a clear signal that the issue at hand had other dimensions other than politics.
He also complained that Konkombas in the community were not happy about the way the issue had been reported in a section of the media “that it is our people who are locking up others’ rooms”.
According to him, no Konkomba man had a hand in the ongoing disturbances.
He asked all aggrieved residents to report their concerns to the committee set up to address their grievances.
Police
Meanwhile, the Commander of the Accra Central Division (Ministries) of the Ghana Police Service, ACP Emmanuel Bossoh Ashong, has told the Daily Graphic that measures have been put in place to maintain and sustain peace in the Old Fadama community to prevent loss of lives and property.
“The issue in that area is quite complicated and dates back to 2009 when there was loss of lives. We have been trying, as security personnel, to manage it in a way that will not let it escalate.
“In that regard, we are working closely with stakeholders in the area. We have also put in place measures to beef up night and day patrols in order not to leave any space for any person to take the law into his or her own hands,” he said.
ACP Bossoh added that there was collaboration between the police and the military to respond promptly to any act of violence in the area.
Checks by the Daily Graphic showed that rooms and stores that were locked up by the feuding factions had been reopened and that a recovery process had begun to identify the owners.