Interior minister renews Hohoe curfew

Mr. William Kwasi Aboah, Minister of the Interior on Tuesday renewed the curfew imposed on Hohoe Township and its surrounding areas for a period of seven days with effect from Tuesday August 28th, 2012.

A press statement issued in Accra and copied to the Ghana News Agency said the new curfew hour would start from midnight to 0500 hours.

The statement explained that the review was based upon the advice of the Volta Regional Security Council.

According to the statement, people living in Hohoe and its surroundings are to remain indoors between the specified hours except with the written permission of the Minister or a person authorized by the Minister.

It reminded individuals within the catchment areas that they are banned from carrying arms, ammunition or any offensive weapon, stressing that any person or persons found breaching the directive would be arrested and prosecuted.

The statement indicated that members of the Ghana Armed Forces, Ghana Police Service, Prisons Service, Security and Intelligence Service, the Ghana Immigration Service and Custom Excise and Preventive Service are exempted from the curfew.

“Any member of the institutions specified or a person authorized by the Minister may arrest without warrant any person who breaches the curfew imposed by this instrument,” the statement stated.

The Minister, according to the statement may suspend the operation of the curfew in the whole or any part of the specified area and terminate the suspension of the curfew and restore the curfew when necessary.

The statement urged chiefs, opinion leaders, youth and the people of the area to channel their energies into ensuring the return of lasting peace to the town.

Government imposed a curfew on the Hohoe Township following communal clashes between locals and some Muslim youths leading to deaths and destruction of properties.