According to the residents, the directive is negatively affecting the smooth running of businesses and movement in the community.

[contextly_sidebar id=”lEMgofl8GJvlFRdtZV9IhjIIoDwBWDmk”]Last Friday, REGSEC banned the use of motorbikes in two of the region’s hotspots, following a shooting incident which claimed the lives of three persons.

But residents of Bimbilla who say the motorbike serves as their means of transport are appealing to the Regional Security Council to review the ban.

One resident who spoke to Citi News said: “This is a very serious issue because here, our main transportation is the motorbike. Assuming I’m carrying my father, he is old and they say I should not carry somebody if we are going to farm, how do we do it?”

Another said: “I have six members of staff and it is only me who goes to school on a single bike. The other people always come to school in pairs. Yesterday when I came to school, we were three and when I asked what happened, they said we should not carry people on motorbikes. The effect is that the standard of education is going to go very bad. We are already battling with it here.”

Three people died in Bimbilla, with eight others injured in the attack which occurred last Thursday.

According to eyewitnesses, two persons on a motorbike allegedly shot at them and sped off.

Five persons who sustained various degrees of injury are receiving treatment at the Tamale Teaching Hospital, with three others at the Bimbilla Hospital.

The incident led to sporadic shootings in some parts of the troubled town.

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By: Felicia Osei /citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Bimbilla residents beg REGSEC to lift motorcycle ban appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The incident led to the death of a 40-year-old woman, and injured her 14-year-old daughter who is currently receiving treatment at the Bimbilla hospital.

[contextly_sidebar id=”2LQNJvcXW7ekV1wYrbTlAwTUa3IHltNc”]“He [Suspect] is an unidentified person. We have not made any arrest, but we picked up AK47 and other ammunition from the house. The issue is still under investigation,” ASP Ebenezer Kusi, the Bimbilla Crime Officer told Citi News.

Explaining the incident, he said, “On Tuesday around 8:00pm, we heard a gunshot in town, so a Police/Military team proceeded to the place, and went to a certain house and found a woman, Rahinatu Alhassan, 40, dead, and her daughter Khadija Bediako, 14, wounded on her left shoulder. We took the body to the Bimbilla Hospital mortuary. The girl is responding to treatment.”

The Bimbilla township has over the last few years been considered a crime hotspot leading to series of violent clashes involving the use of ammunition.

Last week, the celebration of the annual Damba festival in Bimbilla was suspended to prevent potential conflict.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Bimbilla: Woman killed in sporadic shooting; police begins probe appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to him, the youth who are mostly used by the feuding factions have promised to live peacefully.

The Interior Ministry had placed a dusk-to-dawn curfew on the town following some protracted chieftaincy conflicts in the area which has claimed 40 lives in the last decade.

[contextly_sidebar id=”IuNDi48HUDFD6rORMOI0jQdwtTo77e2m”]But residents of the town have decried the curfew hours saying it has affected their socio-economic activities hence the need for a review.

Speaking to Citi News, the District Chief Executive for  Nanumba North, Abdulai Yaqoub, said the District Security Council (DISEC), had earlier recommended a review of the curfew.

“DISEC has recommended the review from 8:00pm to 10:00pm for now, and we are monitoring the situation. If the situation still remains as it is, then we can consider reviewing it to 12:00pm; and eventually remove it completely. I think it is even long overdue because if you check, the conflicts always happen during day time and not during the curfew hours,” the DCE said.

Abdulai Yaqoub also added that, “the youth have come together and have resolved that they want to also help us in attaining peace in the area.”

“In view of this, we met as a district security committee, and then looked at the security situation and recommended to REGSEC for the review of the curfew. REGSEC have met, according to information available to me, and they’ve also made a recommendation to the Interior Minister for the curfew to be reviewed. So very soon I’m sure they will hear the curfew being reviewed by the Minister of Interior,” he added.

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By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

The post Review of Bimbilla curfew hours long overdue – DCE appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to them the curfew has affected their socio-economic activities in the town since no business activity is permitted in the area at night.

[contextly_sidebar id=”4CGO69V6lQj54nDzJgtyUHE0yOsWPzdE”]The Interior Ministry had placed a dusk-to-dawn curfew on the town following some protracted chieftaincy conflicts in the area which claimed 30 lives.

Ten additional lives have also been lost since February 2017.

Speaking to Citi News, the residents complain that they struggle to make a living since they have to close early enough before the time of the curfew.

They however appealed to the Ministry of Interior to review the hours to assuage their plight.

“We are appealing to the Interior Ministry to come to our aid by reviewing the curfew hours, our businesses are suffering, the socio-economic lives of the people are affected. We want the interior minister to provide security at the various palaces and allow the innocent citizens of Bimbilla to go about their normal businesses.”

“We are calling on the government to do something about the curfew on Bimbilla, the situation is affecting us greatly. We no longer do business at night and it’s having a toll on my pockets because sales have gone low, usually some businesses strive at night and in our case its a different story, the government must do something about it now. We are tired,” another resident fumed.

Meanwhile, the District Chief Executive for Bimbilla, Abdulai Yaqoub has vowed to do everything possible to ensure lasting peace in the area.

This follows a pledge by the feuding factions to support the DCE to succeed in that regard.

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Mohammed Aminu M. Alabira, citifmonline.com

The post Bimbilla residents lament decade long curfew appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

This decision was taken on the advice of the Volta Regional Security Council and by Executive Instrument.

contextly_sidebar id=”8vTFN8ovJqFenTGfEhuNXs0Q6ogJrlxm”]According to to the Minister for Interior, Ambrose Dery , the government will continue to express its appreciation to the Chiefs, Elders, Opinion leaders, Youth and people of the area for their efforts in ensuring peace in the area.[

He urged the people in the two towns to use the established mechanisms for the resolution of all their conflicts and disputes. It reiterated that, the ban will affect all persons in the two towns and their environs.

“Any persons found with weapons would be arrested and prosecuted”, he  added.

This comes after a 15-year old boy was killed at Alavanyo. The deceased, a native of Alavanyo Deme, was gunned down by some unidentified men who invaded the community on Thursday May 11, 2017.

It is unclear if today’s shooting is linked to recent clashes between the Alavanyo and Nkonya faction which left three people dead.

In April, three people from Nkonya were killed by some assailants which resulted in the suspension of the Paramount Chiefs and Queen Mothers both traditional areas indefinitely by the Volta Regional House of Chiefs for their failure to maintain peace between the two traditional areas.

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Source: GNA

The post Interior Ministry renews curfew on Alavanyo/ Nkonya appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The incident reportedly occurred at about 2pm.

Reports say some unknown assailants opened fire at five farmers from Nkonya-Ahinkro who were returning from their farm on Wednesday.

The Assemblyman for Nkonya Ntumda, Sylvester Akompi who spoke to Citi News about the incident said residents of both towns were living in fear following news of the incident.

“Five people went to farm, they are palm wine tappers. They were tapping between Nkonya and Alavanyo, precisely Nkonya Ahenkro. So they went to the farm and I had rained a bit. On their way home, a group of people appeared with guns and started shooting. Everyone wanted to find his way, two people managed to hide somewhere, while 3 people were shot.”

“One died instantly. He would be about 40 or 41 years. If it happens like that, people cannot be in the house, so if you come here now, you will see that the whole area is in total pandemonium. People have left their houses. People are in the streets and you will realize that people are really scared.”

The second injured person died at the hospital.

The incident occurred hours after the Minister for the Interior announced that it had reviewed a curfew on the area to 11pm to 4am.

Citi News has learnt that there will be an emergency district security council meeting at Nkonya in the Biokoye District over the matter today [Thursday].

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @jnyabor

The post Two dead, 1 injured in Nkonya-Alavanyo shooting appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The renewed curfew, according to a statement signed by the Minister and copied to the media, starts from 11:00pm to 5:00am with effect from Friday, March 17, 2017.

[contextly_sidebar id=”02qzVSlMD4IC6YDG1EXiGqMMyT7yDytF”]It emphasized government’s appreciation to the chiefs, elders, opinion leaders, youth and people of the area for their efforts in ensuring peace and tranquility following the recent developments.

The statement urged all aggrieved persons in the area to use the established mechanisms for the resolution of their conflicts and disputes.

It cautioned all residents in the towns against carrying arms, ammunitions or any offensive weapons adding; “any persons found with any arms or ammunitions will be arrested and prosecuted.”

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Source: GNA

The post Curfew on Alavanyo and Nkonya renewed appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The directive, which takes effect from Tuesday, March 7, was contained in a statement signed by the sector minister, Ambrose Dery.

[contextly_sidebar id=”5UfiJ6gWe643rr0pPycLamlWq1CBSx7C”]The statement further urged all chiefs, opinion leaders, youth and people of the area to exercise restraint in the face of the challenges they are confronted with and use non-violent means to channel their grievances into ensuring the sustenance of peace in the area.

Meanwhile, there is a ban on all persons in the Bunkprugu Township and surrounding areas from carrying arms, ammunitions and offensive weapons.

It cautioned that any persons found with any arms will be arrested and prosecuted.

The township has been plagued by sporadic chieftaincy clashes between the Jamong and Jafog Biufmoba clans.

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By: Zoe Abu-Baidoo/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Curfew hours in the Bunkprugu township reviewed appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

It said the Minister, Prosper Bani, on the advice of the Northern Regional Security Council and by Executive Instrument, has renewed the curfew hours on the Bunkprugu community from 8:00pm to 6:00am.

The new security arrangement takes effect from Tuesday, November 1, 2016, it stated.

It said, “Government continues to urge chiefs, opinion leaders, youth and people of the area to exercise restraint in the face of the challenges confronting them and to use non-violent means to channel their energies into ensuring peace to the area”.

Meanwhile, there is a total ban on all persons in the Bunkprugu community and surrounding areas from carrying arms, ammunition or any offensive weapon. Any person found with any arms or ammunition will be arrested and prosecuted, it said.

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Source: GNA

The post Interior ministry renews curfew on Bunkprugu community appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.