ECG Manager averts inter-religious clash over electricity poles

Agona Swedru, March 16, GNA- The swift intervention of the Agona District Manager of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), helped to avert a possible clash between Christian and Muslims at Mankrong Junction over two wooden electricity poles. The two poles had been given to the Assemblyman for the area Alhaji Jabire Ibrahim, who is also Imam for Mankrong-Junction and Oketsew for Community Initiative Project (CIP).

Mr Bismarck Awuku, ECG District Manager told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at Swedru on Thursday that he received an emergency call from the Assemblyman on Monday that there was going to be bloodshed over the two wooden poles so he should come and save the situation. According to the Manager he responded urgently to the call and rushed to meet the feuding factions at Mankrong-Junction and resolved the matter by offering additional two poles to be given to other faction. He explained that the offer he made to the chief of Mankrong-Junction Nana Peter Nyakoh, ended the possible clash. Alhaji Ibrahim, told GNA that the Assembly gave him two electricity wooden poles for Community Initiative Project (CIP) and the Christians demanded that the poles be used at a newly constructed toilet. He said the Muslims had also requested to use the poles at their Islamic School and Mosque, saying this became a bone of contention between the two groups.

Alhaji Ibrahim said on Sunday the Christians went and took the poles from where it had been kept and this sparked off violence, adding that the Muslims got their cutlasses, sticks and bows and arrows ready while the Christians also made their guns, cutlasses and other offensive weapons ready for a clash. The Assemblyman said the donation of the two extra poles by ECG Manager was timely intervention to avoid shedding of blood. Alhaji Ibrahim appealed to the two sects to exercise restraint to ensure peace and stability in the District.