THE Police in the Yendi municipality of the Northern Region have instituted measures to check the indiscriminate firing of muskets in the area.
This is to avoid the situation where people abuse the use of muskets under the guise of performing funerals.
It is the tradition of the people of Dagbon to announce the death or burial of an elderly person by the discharge of gunpowder.
However, the police in Yendi are worried that some people could abuse the tradition to cause fear or harm others.
The Northern Regional Police Public Relations Officer, Chief Inspector Ebenezer Tetteh, told the Daily Graphic in Yendi that the Yendi Divisional Police Command had succeeded in implementing a directive that ensures that all persons who desired to fire muskets, should notify the district police command.
“The command came to this agreement in consultation with the key stakeholders in the district, including chiefs, opinion leaders and assembly members,” he stated.
The PRO said the decision was crucial considering the current uneasy calm in the area, which could deteriorate at any time if the security situation was not stabilised.
He said the elders and youth of Yendi were very concerned about the maintenance of security in the area and were, therefore prepared to partner the police to implement any measure in that direction.
Chief Inspector Tetteh stated that since the decision was implemented, the citizens of Yendi had respected the decision and that had contributed greatly to the maintenance of peace in the area.
He said the police were particularly worried about the firing that took place in the night.
“We understand the cultural context under which this firing takes place, but anytime gunshots are heard, people panic and this poses a challenge to peace and security,” the PRO stressed.
Chief Inspector Tetteh again stated that at the meeting with the stakeholders, the police reminded the people to follow the Public Order Act (Act 491), which provides directions regarding demonstrations and other public events.
“We do not want a situation where people would ignore this order and engage in activities that could threaten the peace, which Yendi is currently enjoying,” he stated.
A resident of Yendi, Alhaji Issahaku Lawyer, commended the police for the decision and said it was proper that measures were taken to safeguard peace in the area.
He encouraged the police to organise more forums to discuss pertinent issues affecting the municipality, especially those relating to security.
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