Two-way clash between Chief Imam's convoy and police during #SayNotToGalamsey protest at Kawukudi

It was a two-way confrontation that evolved from what is being reported as the impatience of some youth who were leading the convoy of the National Chief Imam home from his Friday prayers.

This was after their prayers, which is ahead of what is believed to be the Chief Imam's annual 'Maulid-deen' festival to be held on Saturday, October 5.

As reported by GhanaWeb's George Ayisi, since the first day of the protest, the protesters, while on their usual route, would tarry a while longer at the Kawukudi Junction before continuing with their protest.

Being the case on the second day of the protest as well, the protesters, upon getting to the Junction, bumped into a team of young men atop motorbikes, leading a convoy of the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, out of the area.

As Ayisi reports, the youth leading the Chief Imam's convoy, however, got impatient because the police had mounted a barricade preventing them from easy thoroughfare.

The police, in an attempt to explain things to the youth, did not succeed, as the young men forced their way through their barricade until they were able to create a way for their convoy to pass.

In his words, GhanaWeb's George Ayisi reported that:

"We were coming and upon reaching the Kawukudi Junction, the protesters, while crossing the junction, ran into a convoy of some youth leading the Chief Imam's convoy to his residence. Now, when the protesters had reached the roundabout, the youth were supposed to wait for the protest to pass.

"And since yesterday, the protesters would usually take some time at the junction before extending the walk. However, the Muslim youth got incensed by the fact that the protesters were delaying the Chief Imam and so it turned into a confrontation between them and the police, with the police trying to get them to understand and agree to let the protesters pass.

"But during the confrontation, they broke through the police barricade and made a way for their convoy to pass through," he explained.

It is worth mentioning that the clash only involved the police and youth with the Chief Imam's convoy, as the protesters were somehow a little away from the very spot where this confrontation happened.

The demonstration, which is set to run until October 5, aims to draw attention to ongoing galamsey activities which have and continue to cause devastating damage to the country’s environment and water bodies, and also for the release of their arrested colleague protesters.

The protest march which started from Legon Okponglo will proceed to the Black Star Square while following a route approved by the police.

Chosen protest paths include key locations such as the Legon Stadium, Okponglo Traffic Light, Shiashie, Shangri-La, and Airport Traffic Light.

Afterwards, protesters will head to the National Service Secretariat, the Electoral Commission Head Office, Parliament House, and end at Independence Square.

Organised under the banners "FreeTheCitizens" and "SayNoToGalamsey," the protest has gained strong momentum on social media, with thousands expected to participate.



AE