Traders in the Nkwanta-South Municipality of the Oti Region have asked the government to reconsider the curfew imposed on Nkwanta following the communal violence between the Adele and Challa on one side and the Akyode on the other, which runs from 5:00pm to 6:00am and 8:00pm to 6:00am.
Mr Richard Owusu Ansah, Secretary of the Nkwanta-South Traders group, made the appeal on Friday when the group delivered food items to the police in Nkwanta as a mark of appreciation for the police and other security forces’ efforts since the curfew began last year.
Mr Ansah stated that the traders were satisfied with the government’s efforts to ensure peace at Nkwanta, which he observed was a prerequisite for the development of any community; however, he suggested that the government reconsider the curfew period to allow them to engage in more meaningful trade.
He promised on behalf of the traders that the association would continue to provide the necessary assistance to the police and other security agencies in order to motivate them to protect them (citizens) and ensure that their economic activities were carried out peacefully, and that the association was inspired by the police’s high level of professionalism thus far.
The Nkwanta-South Divisional Police Commander, Chief Superintendent of Police (C/Supt) Michael Asiedu, accepted the products and thanked the shopkeepers for their assistance, saying the action would further stimulate troops in the performance of their responsibilities.
According to the Divisional Police Commander, the review of the curfew would be heavily reliant on the parties engaged in the issue, as much depended on them to utilise discussion as the right manner of addressing these misunderstandings, which would help bring calm to the region.
C/Supt Asiedu expressed optimism that the parties involved in the disagreement would soon embrace peace and that the curfew in the town would be lifted, and he asked traders to frequently educate residents on the importance of peace while they conducted their business.
He reminded citizens in the region of the need of providing accurate and timely information to the police in order for them to arrest anyone who posed a threat to the area’s peace, and he stressed that maintaining peace should be viewed as a communal obligation of everyone.
