The Member of Parliament for the Walewale Constituency in the North-East Region of Ghana has described the curfew imposed on the area by the Interior Minister as “needless”.
According to Dr. Mahama Tia Abdul-Kabiru, the curfew is rather creating “unnecessary tension, anxiety and radicalising people”.
In an interview with Accra-based Asaase Radio, monitored by KumasiMail.Com’s Northern Regional Editor Joseph Ziem on Monday, he stated that while the imposition of a curfew is a discretionary power exercised by the Interior Minister, broader consultations should have been held with various stakeholders, including him as the MP for the area.
Dr. Abdul-Kabiru urged the Interior Minister to, as a “first major step, do away with the curfew” and instead, deploy more security officers to patrol troubled areas in Walewale.
On Saturday, February 15, the Interior Minister, on the advice of the North-East Regional Security Council and through an Executive Instrument, imposed a 6 PM to 6 AM curfew on the entire Walewale township and its surrounding areas.
The decision came amid growing security concerns in the area.
A statement issued in Accra by the government called on chiefs, elders, opinion leaders, youth, and residents of Walewale to exercise restraint and pursue non-violent means to address the challenges facing the area.
The government also imposed a total ban on the possession of arms, ammunition, or any offensive weapons within Walewale and its environs.
The curfew and arms ban are expected to remain in place until further notice while the government works with stakeholders to address the underlying issues affecting the area.
Meanwhile security personnel have been deployed to enforce the measures and maintain order in Walewale.
Source : www.kumasimail.com /Joseph Ziem
