Police arrest 30 people for rioting

Akyem Oda, March 21, GNA - Thirty people from Akyem Gyadam and Oda Nkwanta in the Birim South District have been arrested by the police for rioting with offensive weapons and placed in police cells at Akyem Oda. Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Sampson Agbeko, Akyem Oda Divisional Crime Officer who disclosed this to the Ghana News Agency said names of the suspects had been withheld for security reasons.

Since last Sunday, people from both towns have been engaged in brawls after an abrupt end of a football match played at Oda Nkwanta. The team from Oda Nkwanta scored a goal and players from Akyem Gyadam who perceived the referee to be biased pounced on him and this later degenerated into an open fight among supporters from both sides. ASP Agbeko said two people who were seriously injured during the riots were on admission at the Akyem Oda Government hospital. He said most of the men from Akyem Gyadam had fled the town leaving only children, the aged and women.

Meanwhile normal academic work in basic schools in the two towns has come to a standstill as pupils and teachers have deserted the schools.

The dusk to dawn curfew imposed on the two towns since last Tuesday is still in force while reinforcement of police personnel from Koforidua, Asamankese, Kade and Akyem Oda are patrolling the area to help to protect life and property.