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The police have beefed up security at Apremdo in the Effia-Kwesimintsim municipality in the Western Region after a simmering chieftaincy dispute boiled over, leading to massive injuries to people and the destruction of property.

The violent clashes were triggered by a disagreement over the celebration of the Kundum Festival.

Many people suffered acid and machete attacks and were hospitalised, while a house was set ablaze, destroying property worth thousands of Ghana cedis.

Although the riots were quelled, there is uneasy calm in the town and the increased police presence is to prevent further attacks.

Nine in custody

The Kwesimintsim District Police Command arrested nine suspects in connection with the violence, while the protagonists of the two factions have been invited for questioning.

The suspects have been identified as Kofi Arhin, 21; Edward Johnson, 21; Evans Amoah, 30; Solomon Wuru, 50; Jona Odum, 25; Joseph Essien, 43; John Baidoo, 47; David Osei Yalley, 24, and John Banasco, 35.

Speaking to the media, the Western Regional Police Public Relations Officer (PRO), Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Ms Olivia Ewuraabena Adiku, said preliminary investigations pointed to a chieftaincy problem as the underlying factor for the riots.

Don’t celebrate Kundum

Prior to the violence, she explained, there had been a disagreement between the Chief of Apremdo, Nana Egya Kwamina XI, and the queenmother, Nana Mozu VII, which was not resolved.

That led to tension in the town, as all pointed to potential violence if the Kundum Festival was to be celebrated in the town.

The Kundum Festival is celebrated by the coastal ethnic groups in the Western Region, one town after another, over a four-month period between August and November every year.

The major points of observation include stool cleansing, propitiation of the gods, ancestral prayers and drumming and dancing.

DSP Ewuraabena Adiku said to avoid any violent situation, the factions were invited to a meeting at the office of the municipal chief executive, where they were advised to shed the celebration of the festival this year.

However, she said, about 7.20 p.m. last Wednesday, a group suspected to be members of Nana Kwamina’s faction were seen drumming, dancing and singing at the Kundum grounds at Apremdo to signal the beginning of the celebration of Kundum.