Ahafo region: Alleged mastermind of fatal clashes arrested

The Goaso divisional police command has arrested two people in connection with deadly clashes between woodworkers of Ayomso and Akrodie in the Ahafo Region last Friday.

“We have arrested, [one] Afrifa, the one they allege masterminded everything and his brother Kofi Kwarteng,” the Goaso divisional police commander, ACP Ebenezer Larbi said to Citi News.

But ACP Larbi admitted that police are struggling to get information.

“We want those who were there to come and even give statements but they are not prepared to come so we are doing our best to gather information and we are making an effort to get them.”

The clashes happened after a man from Akrodie, popularly called Zidane, who owns a concession in the forest reserve near Tipokrom, seized the machines of some illegal chainsaw operators from Ayomso.

This led to an attack on him and subsequently a reprisal attack from his men.

Two persons have been confirmed dead and more than 13 others including a 12-year-boy were hospitalized after sustaining injuries.

The deceased, Kofi Gyamfi, 27, and David Asuming, 24 both sustained gunshot wounds and were pronounced dead on arrival at the Goaso Government Hospital and the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi respectively.