Concern about public demonstrations in Kumasi

Kumasi, Oct.10, GNA - The Kumasi Metro Security Committee has expressed serious concern about the preferred use of public demonstrations by interest groups in the Metropolis to vent grievances. It said "what is intriguing is that Kumasi is chosen or seen by these aggrieved persons or peoples as their preferred destination" to demonstrate against national issues but not all of such action are legal because the police are sometimes not informed about their intentions as required by law.

A communiqu=E9 adopted at a meeting on security concerns in Kumasi and signed by Mr. Samuel Sarpong, the Metropolitan Chief Executive, said: "what was more worrying about the phenomenon was that the posture started unfolding only this year. In a matter of four months, nine different interest groups either staged public protests to press home their demands in the region or engaged in illegal groupings contrary to the nation's security code", it noted.

Out of this nine, eight of such occurrences took place in the metropolis whilst only one occurred outside Kumasi. It said in discussing the disturbing trends of event, it was noticed that the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, and the Kumasi Traditional Council were equally unhappy that Kumasi is being associated with this unfortunate development.

It said the trend of events emerging in the Metropolis has the potential to disturb the peace and security the people enjoy in the region if left unchecked.

It said the Committee has therefore decided to institute stringent measures to ensure that the peace and security of the region and for that matter Kumasi was enjoying were guaranteed "The police and other security agencies would leave no stone unturned if the law is breached and will go ahead to prosecute the leaders of those who fall foul of the law", it said.

The Committee also stressed the need for the media, both print and electronic, to join the crusade to maintain the peace and security in the Metropolis by not allowing their channels to be used as conduits to inflame passions especially during phone-in programmes. It called on moderators of airwaves to take control of their programmes and regulate the attitude and behaviour of callers on allegations on national issues to promote national unity and progress. 10 Oct.10