RIOT AT ASAWASE

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Some irate youth at Asawase in the Asokore Mampong Municipality in the Ashanti region today, Friday, July 20, prevented the Police, led by the Inspector General, Mr. David Asante Apeatu from interacting with the community members at the Central Mosque. 

The police however brought in an amour car and reinforcement to disperse the crowd. The riot is the result of a simmering tension among the Zongo youth in reaction to what they claim to be the Police’ deliberate targeting of members of the Muslims community in the region for killing in the police’ crime combat in recent months.

 The immediate cause is the shooting to death of seven youngmen by the Ashanti police at Poano in the Amansie West district in what the Police claim to be a shootout with suspected armed robbers. 

However, the youth at Asawase have challenged claims saying that three of those killed were not armed robbers but members of the Asawase community whose characters they can vouch for. 

They youth are claiming the Police is now targeting the youth of Asawase, labelling them as armed robbers without evidence and killing them. 

On Thursday, the Youth demonstrated by wearing red bands, blocking the road in front of the Central Mosque and burning tyres. This prompted a delegation including the Minister for Information. 

Dr. Mustapha Hamid, the IGP, David Asante Apeatu, the Minister for Zongo and inner City development, Boniface Sadique and the Ashanti Regional minister, Simon Osei Mensah to schedule a meeting with leaders of the Zongo Community today. 

However, some irate youth refused to let the Police entourage enter the mosque and started throwing blocks at the Police vehicles. This led the Officials to retreat and call for reinforcement. 

The fully armed Police Officers brought in armoured car and started firing warning shots. The warning shots dispersed the crowd. 

Earlier, a Muslim prayers were held for the 28 year old man, Halidu Mustapha, who was also killed under similar circumstance by the Police at Suame by the Police during the fasting period this year. The body was sent to the Tafo Cemetery for burial.

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