The chaos that never was

Disturbances reminiscent of the terrifying days of the MATE MEHO (NLM)-CPP rivalry in Ashanti had been expected n Kumasi last Thursday. There was every indication that the Sieme Preko march could end up in fierce clashes between the Alliance for Change (AFC) marchers and the so-called Ashanti Resistance for Peace and Stability (ARPS).

Statements and counter-statements from the two groups in the run-up tot he Sieme Preko Demo fuelled fears of a disaster. ARPS, a pro-government group, had threatened to resist any attempt by the AFC to "export" Kume Preko into Kumasi. And the AFC had vowed to go ahead, threats notwithstanding.

This war of words so alarmed the Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr. D. O. Agyekum, that he publicly voiced his fears at Offinso on Sunday May 23 during the maiden celebration of Mmoaninko Festival of the chiefs and people of the Offinso Traditional Area.

Not even a last minute dropping of a proposed government march by the ARPS could ease the tension. Because there were still reports that the group's leaders - Duncan Ben Arthur and Apegie (Kwame Boateng) - were covertly scouring Kumasi's ganglands recruiting thugs to cause mayhem.

The ARPS had, in fact, set out to try and recruit. Duncan Arthur, on one of such missions at Adum, was said to have fled the wrath of some young men when they got to know what he wanted.

At Old Amakom, another gang was said to have demanded a down payment of C1m from Duncan Arthur before embarking on any "ACDR-style" thuggery. Duncan Arthur did not want to pay, and the men would not be moved. Since his defection from the NPP to the NDC two years ago, swashbuckling talkative, Arthur has been striving to punch an NDC hole in the Manhyia Constituency, one of the NPPs safest strongholds.

A day before the BIG DEMO, Apegie and some hirelings of his were seen driving past Prempeh II Street in a NIVA car, No. AA 3972, threatening to unleash blood and terror on the marchers.

In a counter preparation, it is learned, were a large section of the mechanics of the Suame Magazine, the bulk of whom were AFC sympathisers. They had sworn to meet the ARPS boot for boot.

But surprisingly and happily, the threatened ARPS Armageddon did not happen. There wasn't any disruption, no fights, no quarrels, no need for any resistance from any quarter. Siemepreko was peaceful beyond expectation. The only problem if that may be so called was the enthusiasm of the mammoth crowd of marchers. The eight kilometre march, it appeared, was not enough for their pent up energies.

Even GBC's not-so-clever trick to get people to stay at home and watch old recordings of football matches could not help.

Both AFC co-ordinators in Kumasi, Nanabayin Ninsin-Imbeah and Victor Owusu Jnr, as well as the groups executive members, who had driven in from Accra - Nana Akufo-Addo, Kwesi Pratt Jnr, Dr Nyaho-Tamakloe, Dr Wereko-Brobby, Kweku Baako Jnr, Akoto Ampaw, Kakraba Cromwell, Victor Newman - all were overshadowed by the unusually massive turn-out.

"This is bigger than the Accra crowd. The only difference is that the Accra march was tension-filled because of the ACDRs" Akoto Ampaw told THE STATESMAN half-way through the march.

Scores of people shrugged off the ARPS stance as an empty threat. In fact they considered such a move as a plain foolhardiness, considering Kumasi's reputation as an anti- government centre.

But whatever the true situation, the Ashanti Regional Police Administration deserves a special pat on the back for their efficient work before, during and after the march. The ARPS eleventh-hour cancellation of its march and the moderation displayed by the AFC demonstrators were largely due to Police living up to the "peace officer" image.

The police had prepared well for the event, they had taken the necessary precaution of arresting notorious gangsters, whom they suspected were likely to cause trouble.

Before the demonstration got underway last Thursday, the police had placed at least 30 suspects in custody. They were rounded up at the notorious ganglands of the Race Course, Abrepo Junction, Akwatia Line, Old Amakom, Allabo and Ashtown. In the swoop, police seized pistols, cutlasses, knives, and drugs suspected to Indian hemp and cocaine.