Former police chief blames politicians for Kumasi unrest

A former Ashanti Regional Police Commander, Kwaku Ayensu Opare-Addo, has stated politicians are culpable for the on-going unrest in the region’s capital, Kumasi.

Mr. Opare-Addo said authorities should not rule out political interests from the onslaughts in the region, to help put the situation to a total rest.

According to him, the continuing political interference by leading politicians is causing the uncontrollable unrest in the region.

He also believes proper collaboration between security agencies and residents can fight the perennial crime invasion in the region.

Mr. Opare-Addo was speaking on Nhyira Fm’s “Kukurantumi” on Saturday, May 11, 2013.

Two persons were reported dead Wednesday from gunshot and machete wounds inflicted by unknown assailants at Ashtown, a suburb of Kumasi in the Ashanti Region.

The two were among a group of young men who were drinking at a bar prior to the incident. An eyewitness revealed that the assailants fired a warning shot first, before shooting the leg of one of the deceased persons, pounced on him, butchered and again opened fire on him again at close range

However, the Ashanti Regional Youth Organiser for the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), Kwaku Boahen, wants the intervention of the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, for peace and sanity to return to the area.

According to Mr. Boahen, the volatile nature of the situation could end-up in a prolonged “generational tussle” between the two factions - National Democratic Congress (NDC) and New Patriotic Party (NPP) - and therefore needs immediate intervention by the Asantehene.

He said any attempt by politicians and security authorities would be interpreted with political view, which will not help the issue.