Hoodlums disrupt International Peace Day at Sankore

A large contingent of Police personnel on Friday moved in to maintain law and order at Sankore, a farming community in the Asunafo South District of Brong-Ahafo Region, as the residents joined the procession to mark International Peace Day.

The International Peace Day, instituted by the United Nations, falls on September 21 every year and it is used to strengthen ideals of peace among nations.

Globally the day was marked under the theme: "The Right to Peace - The Universal Declaration of Human Rights at 70".

However, before the event organised by the Regional Peace Council could proceed as expected, some machete-wielding young men stormed the Sankore old station, venue for the programme.

Riding motorbikes and wielding offensive instruments, the angry young men threatened, frightened and attacked local residents who were at the scene to participate in the programme.

Journalists invited to cover the event and some residents had to flee for their lives as the young men scattered and destroyed several plastic chairs arranged for the event.

Officials and other invited personalities had not arrived when the incident happened.
When the reporters arrived in the town around 0900 hours, there was no security presence.
The action of the young men, the Ghana News Agency learnt was to register their protest against the organisation of the event in the town.

Some of the residents told the GNA that the protesters were victims who were brutally assaulted by another group of young men under the previous government's administration.

According to them the protesters did not understand why the Regional Peace Council existed to mediate for peace while nothing has been done to their attackers who are roaming freely in the town.

"We will not allow this event to take place. Where were they (Peace Council) when the other people were attacking us. We must also retaliate", one of the protesters was heard saying.