Police arrest 7 in violent clash at Ahwiaa; two with pistols and ammunitions

Police in Ashanti Region have arrested seven people in connection with Saturday’s violent clash at Ahwiaa in the Kwabre East District that left people injured and properties destroyed.

Two of the persons were found with pistols and quantities of ammunition, Deputy Ashanti Regional Police Commander DCOP Fred Adu Annim told TV3’s Benjamin Aidoo.

“So far about seven people have been arrested; two were wielding cutlasses and two were also found with pistol and quantities of ammunition. They are all in custody,” he said.

A misunderstanding between the Ashanti and Zongo youths of Ahwiaa Friday night during a funeral triggered the violent clash early Saturday. There is said to be a longstanding rivalry between two youth groups in the area.

A team of Police and military personnel were called in to restore law and order but that was after some commercial shops along the business street of the town were broken into and looted while some vehicles were destroyed.

DCOP Annim told our correspondent the situation has been brought under control and business has since Saturday evening bounced back.

He said the Police was investigating the case and assured residents who initially called for curfew to be imposed in the area that “security [has been] beefed up. The police- military teams are there and will continue”.

He urged the residents to keep calm, listen to their leaders, and “give us the necessary information that will lead to the arrest of those who perpetuated this crime so that we can bring them to book”.

The Deputy Commander revealed the Police has met with the Ahwiaa chief together with the Zongo chief in the area on the matter and impressed on them to provide information that could lead to the arrest of the masterminds of the crime.

“We gather from the narration from the chiefs that there is a protracted problem between the two. Whatever it is we will delve into it so that we can uproot it,” DCOP Annim told our correspondent.