MCE briefs media on MUSEC meeting following Sunday clash in Bolgatanga

Following Sunday renewed chieftaincy clash that claimed one live and injured two others, the Bolgatanga municipal Security Committee, met last Tuesday, to put heads together and adopt critical measures to bring the current situation in the municipality under control as well as prevent possible clash. 

At a meeting to brief the media on the outcome of the meeting in Bolgatanga the Head of the Municipal Security Committee who doubles as the Municipal Chief Executive, Joseph Amiyuure, indicated that the committee was considering bonding opinion leaders of the two gates as well as regulating movements of people in the affected areas.  

The Sunday clash resulted just 48 hours after the Bolgatanga High Court had annulled a ruling that affirmed Raymond Alafia Abilba at the upper east regional house of chiefs as the paramount chief of Bolgatanga. 

It is still not clear what triggered the gunfire though echoes of gunshots were heard from the seat of the traditional council and the commercial street of Bolgatanga, thus Atulbabisi. 

As a result of the disturbances, one person died and two others have been critically injured in a cutlass attack Sunday and are currently receiving treatment at the Bolgatanga regional Hospital. 

It is against this disturbing development that the municipal security committee held an emergency meeting yesterday to decide on ways to salvage the situation as well as prevent any possible clash hence the media briefing. 

Joseph Amiyuure said one of the decisions that came out of the meeting was to restrict human and vehicular movements after 10pm. 

This, he said, was to regulate the inflow and outflow of people in and around Atulbabisi adding that a combined team of military and the police had been deployed to the area. He was convinced that if people were allowed to gallivant, it will create chaos and possible clashes. 

Mr. Amiyuure, was however, quick to add that people should not perceive the restricting of movement after 10pm as a curfew imposed on them adding that he had no authority whatsoever to do that. 

He said MUSEC has also fashioned the possibility of bonding the two gates particularly opinion leaders of the sides to ensure that anytime there was chaos or clashes, whoever were the opinion leaders in those areas will be held accountable. 

Mr. Amiyuure indicated that MUSEC considers Sunday clash as an urgent situation and has therefore urged the municipal police command to deal the matter with all the seriousness it deserved. 

The MCE was saddened about current rumors in the municipality that indicated that he was present in court on Friday when the judgment was passed. 

He however, denounced such rumors stressing that it was a plan employ by his detractors to put him in a tight corner. 

He said on the Friday when the ruling was pronounced, he was in a meeting at the Regional Coordinating Council with the Regional Minister, Deputy Minister for local Government, MMDCEs and other decentralized heads stressing that anyone who deemed it false can confirm it from the regional office. 

Mr. Amiyuure advised residents living in and around the municipality to be calm and go about their daily activities. He said as head of the municipality, it was his duty to ensure the well-being of the people.

GBC