Police deploy personnel for peaceful Muslim holy feast

The Ashanti Regional Police Command, has advised the Muslim community, especially the youth to stay clear of trouble for a peaceful ‘Eid-al-Fitr’ celebration.

“We have deployed our men to strategic areas in Kumasi and its environs to maintain law and order during and after the feast,” Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Godwin Ahianyo, the Regional Police Public Relations Officer, told the media.

‘Eid-al-Fitr’ is the first day of the Islamic month of Shawwal, and marks the end of Ramadan - 30 days of fasting and prayer.

Many Muslims use the occasion to attend communal prayers, listen to ‘khubta’ (sermon) and also give ‘zakat al-fitr’ (charity in the form of food).

A section of the youth had, however, resorted to engaging in social gatherings to spice up the holy feast, and in some instances, these joyful events had unfortunately culminated into violent clashes among rival groups in the Zongo communities.

ASP Ahianyo hinted that they had put men on standby to carry out special operations if the need arose, warning that the Police Command would not tolerate any deviant behaviour likely to mar the sanctity of the feast.

A patrol team, he said, would be monitoring all processions by the various Muslim groups and stressed that their outfit had already been notified of the various routes for those activities.

Additionally, the Police had also beefed up security at the various traffic intersections to ensure free-flow of traffic and the revelers.