Bantama youth demonstrate against street jam

Kumasi, March 4, GNA - A group calling itself Bantama Youth on Saturday staged a massive demonstration against the impending holding of a street jam in the community by Guinness Ghana Breweries Limited (GGBL) on Monday, March 6 to commemorate Ghana's independence.

The demonstration, which followed the clean-up exercise organised by the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), was to draw attention to past street jams in the community.

The demonstrators contended that previous street jams at Bantama brought in their wake immorality and other anti-social vices, which tarnished the image and name of the community.

Carrying placards some of which read, "No More Street Jams", "Our Chiefs Must Protect Us", "Seek Our Views First" and "Respect Bantama Youth", the demonstrators said people came from the other suburbs of the metropolis during previous jams to steal, sexually harass women and young girls and engaged in fighting.

"We do not want this kind of situations at Bantama again and therefore do not want the street jam to be held here again". The demonstrators also complained about the continuous occupation of the only playing field in the community by the Lebanon Club. They told the Ghana News Agency that there was no community centre in the community where the youth could have some recreation and the only open space left, which they use as a playing field, was being monopolised by the Lebanon Club and therefore needed a redress. When Baffour Asare Owusu Amankwatia V, Bantamahene, was contacted, he condemned the demonstration saying that it was uncalled for. He said the organisers of the street jam had given him full assurance that there would be tight security during the event. On the Lebanon Club issue, he said the Club legitimately acquired the land and that they acquired a lease, which allows them to occupy the land for about 90 years.