Traditional leaders in Hamile have appealed to the Member of Parliament for Lambussie, Prof. Titus Kofi Beyuo, to intervene with the Interior Minister for an early lifting of the curfew imposed on the border community, citing its impact on businesses and residents’ livelihoods.
The chiefs made the appeal during an engagement with the MP, expressing concern that the restrictions were disrupting commercial activities and worsening economic hardship among residents.
They explained that some residents had been unable to secure meals following the late announcement of the curfew, while food vendors who prepare meals for travellers, particularly long-haul truck drivers arriving at night, had suffered losses because they could no longer serve their customers.
Some of the food prepared for sale reportedly went bad as vendors were unable to make sales before the restrictions took effect.
Responding to the appeal, Prof. Beyuo said he would pursue the request only after receiving assurances from traditional leaders and members of the Upper West Regional Security Council that the disturbances which led to the imposition of the curfew would not recur.
The Chairman of the Hamile Town Development Committee, Alhaji Madi, assured the MP that sub-chiefs had already engaged the youth and reached an understanding to prevent a recurrence of the disturbances.
The MP cautioned the traditional authorities against violence, destruction of public property and threats against security installations, stressing that grievances should be addressed through peaceful engagement.
He explained that the authority to lift the curfew rests solely with the Minister for the Interior but pledged to engage the Minister on the community’s appeal.
The engagement comes amid growing concerns over the human and economic consequences of the explosion and subsequent disturbances.
The Lambussie MP has separately disclosed that 13 people, all males, sustained injuries during the explosion, providing a fresh update on the scale of casualties.
The incident also claimed three lives, according to the DCE’s account, and triggered violent protests that resulted in further security concerns in the border town.
The government initially imposed a curfew from 6:00 pm to 5:00 am daily, alongside a ban on the possession of arms, ammunition and other offensive weapons.
The chiefs have expressed their commitment to maintaining peace and working with security agencies to restore normalcy in the community.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
