Old Tafo clashes: Interior Ministry reviews curfew

The Interior Ministry has reviewed the curfew hours imposed on the Old Tafo township from 8pm to 4am, effective Wednesday, March 23, 2016.

The decision was arrived at upon advice from the Ashanti Regional Security Council. The earlier curfew was from 6pm to 6am.

The renewal comes in spite of reports that the town was calm. Some residents say the curfew is hurting their businesses.

One person died and several others sustained injuries following violent clashes between Muslim youth and some youths in the town.

A 30-year-old man was shot by a security man and was rushed to the Tafo Government Hospital. He was later transferred to KATH, where he died.

Wielding machetes, clubs, knives and hammers, irate Muslim youth, who claimed to be fighting a jihad, assaulted anyone they could find on the troubled Old Tafo streets.

The vandalism and destruction was triggered by disagreements over a piece of land at the Old Tafo Cemetery.

Member of Parliament for the area, Dr Anthony Akoto-Osei, who is opposed to the curfew, believes it should be lifted completely.

He is, however, hopeful that the curfew will be lifted after the security agencies meet with the Asantehene.

“I was waiting for Otumfuo Osei Tutu to be briefed about the situation; now that he has come, we are going to talk to the security agencies to see what can be done.”

He appealed to the security agencies to do what they can to review the curfew because it was unfavourable for businesses.