Akwanbo festival turns bloody; one shot in the head

Gomoa Dago, a town in the Central Region, on Saturday, came to a standstill when a festival meant to bring unity among the people turned bloody.

The Chiefs and people had gathered in the ancient town to celebrate this year’s Akwanbo Festival when suddenly they were pelted with stones by some town folks in an attempt to disorganize the function which was graced by some dignitaries across the country.

Local people say the incident occurred as a result of a misunderstanding between two ‘Asafo’ companies – the Dentifo and Tuafo members of the town.

Eyewitnesses say one of the Dentsifo ‘Asafo’ members was spotted by the other group, Tuafo, wearing a hat that bears their colours.

Upon persistent calls to remove the hat, the Denstifo Asafo members didn’t budge, resulting in chaos at the durbar grounds.

Police personnel who were detailed to the scene to maintain peace and order then fired warning shots and tear gas to disperse the crowd.

One woman was said to have been hit in the head with a stray bullet with several others sustaining various degrees of injuries.

They are currently at an unknown heath facilities receiving treatment.

A police vehicle was also attacked by the angry Tuafo group and in the process, smashed the tail and siren lights of the car.

The Tuafo ‘Asafo’ had on Friday, August 22, 2015, celebrated their Akwanbo Festival without any mishap and were expected to have remained peaceful while the other faction celebrated theirs.

During the festive occasion, all the Asafo companies meet to decide on which colours each would use.

Specific routes are also designated to each Asafo company.

Until the festival ends, no group is permitted to use any route allocated to the other Asafo group. Whoever dares, flouts this regulation, and is punished by pelting stones at him or her.

“Because the town is not united, the chiefs have divided the Asafo Group into two, Group 1 and 2. On Friday, the Number 1 group, Tuafo Asafo celebrated Akwanbo and on Saturday when the other group, Dentsifo Asafo, was celebrating, some people from the Tuafo Asafo company started stoning them for not prevailing on the one who had put on a hat that bears their colours to remove it,” one of the eyewitnesses recalled.

The Chief of the area, Nana Eduafo VI when contacted by Kasapafmonline.com condemned the act.

He told this website he would ensure a ban is placed on the festival and the various Asafo Companies until they come together as one people.

The Apam District Police Commander, ASP Cephas Dzeane, when contacted confirmed the incident but complained bitterly about the attitude of the local folks.