Police to clamp down on trouble-making self appointed Zongo chiefs

Police in Kumasi are promising a ruthless crackdown on self-appointed Zongo chiefs whose conduct poses a security threat to the people.

Manhyia Divisional Command warns the police will arrest and prosecute these self-appointed chiefs to prevent bloodshed ahead of the Eid-ul-Fitr celebrations.

Acting Divisional Commander, Superintendent Rev. Dr. Nana Samuel Nyamekye Adane-Ameyaw says police will not tolerate indiscipline that will plunge the city into lawlessness.

He warns “anybody who wants to take the law into his own hands and to spoil the beauty of that event, that person will have a brush with the law.”

The two major Muslim festivals, Eid-ul-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan fasting, and Eid-ul-Adha or Feast of Sacrifice, are celebrated in Kumasi with street carnivals.

Often, the procession has resulted in violent clashes between followers of rival the Zongo chiefs.

A middle-aged man, Baba Seidu, was murdered in cold-blood in one of such incidents last year.

A docket on four people arrested over the young man’s death still awaits advice from the Attorney- General’s Office, almost one year after the incident

Police fear the violence could repeat itself as some self-styled chiefs continue to parade themselves as lawfully-enskinned community leaders.

“This year some people have started it. I am also warning them; if they have a problem, they should sort it out before it is too late.” Superintendent Adane-Ameyaw warned.

He mentioned particularly claimant to the the Builsa skin in Kumasi who has been parading himself despite the enskinment of the rightful heir recently in collaboration with the Asantehene.

The security agency has scheduled a meeting with all Zongo chiefs in the region to discuss ways of averting a recurrence.

Superintendent Rev. Dr. Nana Adane-Ameyaw appeals to Muslims and their leaders to ensure peace as Zongo chiefs consult with the Asantehene to resolve chieftaincy issues.

Ahead of the meeting with the chiefs, Supt Adane-Ameyaw tells Nhyira FM no effort will be spared in securing celebrants and their communities.

“I want to use your platform to let every chief or any other person individual or group of people who have a similar mission or intention to stop that otherwise I will not sit down here for anybody to do anything that will cause bloodshed here”, he stressed.