Violence mar Homowo festival at Osu

Accra, Aug. 22, GNA - Nii Nortey Owuo III, Chief of Osu was on Tuesday whisked away to prevent being harmed when an irate mob attacked while he was leading a retinue of his elders to sprinkle "Kpoikpoi" (traditional meal) as part of this year's Homowo festival. A number of revellers got injured when they had to run helter-skelter for dear life marring the symbolic sprinkling of "Kpokpoi" to mark the beginning of the Homowo (hooting at hunger) at Osu.

The mob numbering about 15 and carrying broken bottles, knives, pestles and other offensive weapons inflicted a deep cut on the head of a 16-year old girl walking closely by the Chief.

The Chief's followers sensing danger swiftly threw cordon around him and took him back to the palace and just after that about 15-armed Policemen from the Osu Police Station managed to restore calm. Five members of the gang were arrested on site while the Police were seen pursuing the others. Their names were not immediately given. Nii Okwei Nortey, Secretary to the Osu Traditional Stool, told the assistance of the Police.

He said since 1986, the Chief had not performed the sprinkling of Kpokpoi due to protracted chieftaincy dispute in the area. Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) James Annor, the Osu District Commander appealed to supporters of the Chief to remain calm and to desist from any counter attack that would escalate the violence. The mob that attacked the Chief were heard shouting that Nii Owuo was not a member of their royal family, which he claimed he hailed from.