The Ashanti Regional Security Council has lifted the 72-day-old curfew imposed on the people of Tafo, following reprisal attacks between indigenes and some irate Muslim youth.
The 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew was reviewed last month to 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. but was completely lifted yesterday because of the apparent improved relationship between the feuding parties.
The council said the situation had ‘improved massively’ and the necessary traditional compensation and pacifications had been done to warrant the lifting.
The Regional Minister, Mr John Alexander Ackon, expressed the hope that the peace would be sustained to enhance businesses, especially night trading.
The town had gone ‘dead’ over the last three months, following the curfew and businesses, including transport business, had stalled.
Background
Three months ago, a group of Muslim youth attacked the chief’s palace for apparently issuing instructions to demolish a wall being built around a Muslim cemetery in the town.
But a statement from the palace said the youth had encroached on other territories and gone beyond the parcel of land allocated by the chief to them.
Confusion broke out minutes later and a combined team of police and military stormed the town to restore peace.
Several canisters of tear gas were fired to prevent an escalation of the clash which resulted in the death of one person.
Destruction
A church and a mosque were burnt down while houses belonging to either factions were attacked and properties destroyed.
Reaction
Residents, especially women whose night markets were affected as a result of the curfew, expressed their gratitude to the council and expressed the hope of recouping all that they had lost.
