Seven houses burnt in church violence at Atonsu

Atonsu (Ash), July 11, GNA - Seven houses were burnt and property running into millions of cedis destroyed on Thursday at Atonsu near Asante Mampong, during a clash between two factions of the Atonsu branch of the Saviour Church of Ghana.

More than 15 persons who sustained various degrees of injuries, are receiving treatment at the Kwamang Clinic, and Mampong Government Hospital.

Chief Superintendent Kwaku Ayesyu Opare Addo, Mampong Divisional Police Commander, who disclosed this to the GNA today Friday said one person, Kofi Saahene, 14 a school drop out, had been arrested in connection with the clash.

Mr Opare Addo, said, a quarrel ensued between the suspect, Saahene who belonged to one faction and Kwabena Okyer 13, a primary six pupil of Atonsu Methodist Primary School, who also belonged to the other faction. He said the members of the two factions on hearing of the quarrel rushed to the scene and started fighting each other, using cutlasses and clubs.

According to Mr Opare Addo police personnel were deployed to the scene to quell the violence and that efforts were underway to convince some of the combatants who had taken refuge in the bush to return home. He identified a long-standing dispute between the two factions over the ownership of the church's property.