Konkombas: We have nothing to do with clashes

Accra, Aug. 28, GNA - The Konkomba Yam Producers and Marketing Society on Friday said they had nothing to do with last Tuesday's clash at Agbogbloshie that claimed three lives. They said the clash did not occur at the Kokomba Market as reported by the police and media, but rather in front of the Old Fadama Police Station.

At a press conference in Accra on Friday, Mr Anthony Tanyam, Public Relations Officer and Secretary of the Society, said "The Konkomba Market is not a haven for criminals neither are we engaged in any negative activities.

"All these are attempts by certain unscrupulous and irresponsible persons and groups to drag the Konkombas' reputation in the mud for their own selfish manipulations." Mr Tanyam said the link of the Konkomba Market with crime was a disservice to their reputation and business activities, adding that the Agbogbloshie area had several parts.

He said since the Konkombas moved into the Agbogbloshie area in 1981, none of them had ever committed even a single criminal offence which merited investigation and prosecution by the police. Mr Tanyam said the Konkomba Market, since its establishment 28 years ago, had become the main source of food supply to the Accra Metropolis, Tema Municipality, and other major cities throughout the country as well as earning foreign exchange. He said the Konkomba Market employed over 5,000 people from all walks of life who were busy people and did not have time to engage in criminal or violent activities which would hinder the growth and development of their businesses.

Mr Tanyam called on the media to be circumspect and to cross-check issues concerning ethnic groups at Agbogbloshie before reporting them, since such reports could inflame passions among their brothers and sisters in the three northern regions. He also called on the security agencies to find a lasting solution to the frequent clashes between members of the National Democratic Congress and New Patriotic Party in the Agbogbloshie area. Mr Tanyam threatened that Konkombas would henceforth take legal action against people or institutions that spoke or wrote untruths about them.

Meanwhile, calm has since returned to the Agbogbloshie Market following the deployment of police personnel to the area. Two people are reported to have been arrested by the police in connection with last Tuesday's incident.