Winneba (C/R), May 8, GNA - A durbar to climax this year's Annual Aboakyer festival by the chiefs and people of the Effutu Traditional Area could not take place due to insecurity and the mounting tension in the Municipality.

The Omanhene of the Traditional Area, Neenyi Ghartey VII, made this known to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview in Winneba on Saturday. According to him as at 0700 hours on Saturday, the two Asafo Companies Tuafo and Dentisfo No. 2 had still not gone to the bush to capture the live deer, for fear of being attacked, following a clash between the two on Friday evening in which about ten people were injured. He said he would not comment on the situation now but described it as unfortunate and appealed to his people to remain calm to avoid loosing more lives and the destruction properties.

Meanwhile, a number of police personnel, armed with anti-rioting gadgets are patrolling the Municipality to prevent further rioting. As at 1030 hours on Saturday when the GNA visited the durbar ground, there were a handful of people at the place.

According to the Winneba Police, those injured were treated and discharged at the Winneba Government Hospital.

The police said the Tuafo No. one and Dentsifo No. 2 Asafo Companies clashed at Ntwatanan and threw missiles and other offensive objects at each other on Friday evening, resulting in the injuries, and that four people have been arrested to help in the investigations.

People who travelled to Winneba to watch the festival have expressed their disappointment at the situation. A few of them told the GNA that the confusion and the troubles that has marred the celebration, was as a result of chieftaincy disputes. The Municipal Chief Executive, Nii Ephraim, who is also the Chairman of the Municipal Security Council, told the GNA on phone that "he was at an emergency security meeting and therefore would not be able to comment on the situation". 8 May 10