Police stops Krobo festival over chieftaincy fight

The Eastern Regional Security Council has filed a suit at the Koforidua High Court to secure an injunction against the celebration of this year’s Kloyosikplemi festival by the people of Somanya over security concerns due to a chieftaincy dispute.

Kloyosikplemi, which means “descending the Krobo mountain”, is an annual festival celebrated in November every year. However, a protracted chieftaincy dispute in Yilo Krobo is threatening the peace and security of the area, compelling the authorities to push for its suspension.

According to the suit, “the security of the area is likely to be breached if the two feuding parties are not restricted from celebrating the Kloyosikplemi festival and also made to execute a bond to keep the peace of the Somanya area and its environs before this honourable court”.

The factions have scheduled different dates for the celebration of the festival at Somanya. While the Nuer faction scheduled the celebration of the festival from 1 – 30 November, the Ologo and Akrobetoe factions have scheduled it for 10 – 21 November, 2017.

However, the law enforcement agency insists that the “security situation in Somanya and its environs has become heavily tensed up due to this situation”, and it is a matter “great concern to the Regional Security Council”.