Bryt FM has gathered that the New Juaben Municipal Police Command is likely to deploy armed police personnel to Koforidua Zongo as tension rises between the Zongo youth and the New Juaben Traditional Council over noise making.
The New Juaben Traditional Council has issued a stern warning to Koforidua Zongo youth planning to go out on the streets in their numbers to celebrate the Eid festival.
According to the traditional council, Nananom has not given an exemption to the Muslim youth to go on the street to celebrate the festival contrary to the ban on drumming and noise-making.
The Gyaasehene of New Juaben Traditional Area Nana Twumasi Darkwah in a press conference weeks ago announced that the New Juaben Traditional Council has placed a ban on noise making from 18th April 2022 to 18 May 2022 as part of the customary rite for the final burial and funeral rite of the late chief and queen mother Daasebre Prof.Emeritus Oti Boateng and Nana Yaa Daani II respectively.
However, the Muslim youth in Koforidua Zongo has claimed that the New Juaben Traditional Council has given them an exemption to celebrate the Eidul-Fitir celebration despite a ban on drumming and noise-making.
The Zongo youth said after several negotiations the council agreed to allow the celebration. “The respected New Juaben traditional council has given a green light for Eidul-Fitir celebration”.
However, speaking to Bryt FM, the Gyaasehene of New Juaben, Nana Twumasi Darkwa said there was no such agreement during a meeting between the Muslim leaders and the traditional council.
He said “it is false claims that Nananom has given the greenlight. Nananom is not against the celebration of the Eid All that we are saying is that they should not make noise. Nananom will not accept any form of noise making. We are told they said they will do it in the Zongo even with that it should not be associated with any form of noise-making” Gyaasehene said.
The New Juaben Municipal Police Command which sat in previous meetings with the Chiefs and the Zongo leaders has planned deployment on May 3 to the Koforidua Zongo to maintain law and order to avoid confrontations.
Intervention by Chief Imam
The Eastern Regional Chief Imam Alhaji Amudani Yusif in a previous interview with Bryt FM called on the Muslim youth in New Juaben North and South Municipalities not to take to the streets to jubilate following the ban placed on noise-making and drumming by the New Juaben Traditional council.
In the light of this, the Eastern Regional Chief Imam said ” we have received a letter from the New Juaben Traditional Council indicating that there has been a ban on noise making from 18th April to 18 May 2022 meanwhile our Ramadan festival will be on the 3rd May 2022 due to that we have no other option than to abide by their directives”.
The Chief Imam says they are engaging the youth.
“We have educated our youths to strictly conduct themselves according to the directives as indicated in the letter we received from the New Juaben Traditional Council, we have told and warned our youths to celebrate the Ramadan festival peacefully indoors without making any unnecessary noise,
Anyone who will go contrary to the directives, there will be a sanction to such persons to serve as a deterrent to others” he said.
He said Ramadan is a period of peace hence all Muslims must desist from all behaviors that will not bring about peace, he said Muslims should uphold themselves to the teachings of the Quran.
The Regional Chief Imam however said, the Eid -prayer will come off at the Central mosque but without the usual drumming with the procession.
Source: Mybrytnewsroom.com/Obed Ansah
