Government Imposes Curfew On Anloga And Keta

Government has with immediate effect imposed a dusk to dawn curfew on Angloga and Keta township in the Volta Region. This follows yesterday's chieftaincy dispute which resulted in the death of a policeman and other three civilians including a woman.

Addressing the media at the Conference Hall of the Ministry of Information  and National Orientation this afternoon, Hon. Minister for Interior, Kwamena Bartels, said, the police and the military would strictly enforce this curfew and any one who breaks the directive would face the full rigours of the law. 'The curfew will be from 6pm to 6am am each day,' he said

The Minister prohibited all persons in the Anloga and Keta areas form carrying any ammunition, adding that the issue of who is the rightful heir to the Anlo Paramount Stool should be settled through the constitutional structures of the Regional or National House of Chiefs or the court, 'not on the streets of Anlo or Keta, or in the media', he stressed.

He reiterated government's position of non-interference in chieftaincy affairs but said it is government's over-riding responsibility to ensure peace, law and order in all parts of country. 

'Government appeals to the traditional and opinion leaders and to all citizens, residents and well-wishers of the Anlo traditional area to assist government to ensure the calm, tranquility and security prevail', he noted.

Meanwhile he said investigations are on-going in the area to help arrest the perpetrators, he added that 93 people have been so far arrested for screening.

The Minister for Information and National Orientation, Mrs Oboshie Sai Cofie, asked the media and the general public not to inflame the current situation in the Anloga and Keta township.

These clashes occurred yesterday when some traditional leaders moved in a procession to perform some customary rites at the shrine of the Yorxoenu over the nomination, confinement and installation of an Awoamefia for the people of Anlo state in the Volta Region when some factions opposed it leading to the situation at hand.