Konkomba-Dagomba feud: Relocate yam market – Inspector General of Police

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Nana Asante Apeatu has proposed a relocation of the Yam Market at Agbogbloshie in order to deal with the crime and lawlessness in the area.

A total of five persons have been picked up in relation to the deadly clash between Dagombas and Konkombas at Agbogbloshie on Tuesday, April 11. Locally manufactured weapons were retrieved from some of the suspects now in police custody.

The clash has resulted in two deaths with several injured as over 30 persons have also been displaced.

This is not the first time such violent clashes have been recorded in the area and the police have said that several other crimes have been reported in the area.

The IGP, while addressing a press conference in Accra on Wednesday, April 12, explained: “One major solution to this is for us to ensure that the people are relocated.”

He raised concerns that the terrain was a complex one with difficult access routes, making it difficult for passage by individuals.

He added: “Apart from a narrow lane that goes through all other alleys, sometimes you have to move sideways in order to pass through.

“The terrain is such that it has prompted several administrations to relocate the market.”

Answering questions from the media about intelligence gathering to forestall such clashes, he responded that even though information could be gathered, “it is not very easy at all to gather the intelligence that you may require to [forestall violent clashes]”.

He continued: “We are aware that some crimes are being committed in there and it is just a difficult terrain. Intelligence can be gathered but 100 per cent cannot be achieved and these are some of the challenges.”