Bride and groom wanted by police
The police are on a manhunt for a couple who fled their wedding on Sunday in Tamale after defying the government’s directive on social gatherings aimed at preventing the spread of coronavirus.
The two fled when they heard police patrol vehicles approaching the event grounds with blaring sirens.
The groom, who has been identified only as Nash and the bride, Tijani Nimatu, were holding an Islamic marriage ceremony at Kukuo in Tamale with scores of guests in attendance, which bleach government’s directives not to have more than 25 people at a social gathering.
The police,however, arrested two of the guests, Iddi Ibrahim, 34 and Abubakari Yusif Dauda, 33.
Briefing
Briefing the media, the Northern Regional Crime Officer of the Ghana Police Service, Superintendent Otuo Acheampong, said the police received information at about 1 pm that a wedding ceremony was underway in the community.
He said two patrol teams were dispatched to the scene and arrested the two suspects who were part of the gathering in blatant disregard to the ban on public gatherings and social distancing protocols.
The wedding invitation
“On 19 April 20 at about 1pm, information was received that a wedding ceremony was underway at Kukuo, a suburb of Tamale. Two patrol teams responded and arrested two suspects who were part of the gathering in blatant disregard to Executive Instruments against public gatherings and social distancing,” he noted.
He added that the groom and bride who escaped arrest have been asked to report themselves at the Regional Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
Supt Acheampong indicated that the two suspects were assisting the police with investigations, adding that they would be charged and arraigned before the court within the week.
Background
The government of Ghana suspended all public gatherings in the country following the outbreak of Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Ghana on Saturday, March 14, 2020.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo made this known in a televised national address Sunday night [March 15, 2020].
Akufo-Addo extends ban on public gathering by two more weeks
He said the new directives followed an earlier meeting of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Coronavirus response which he chaired and led to deliberate on the issues.
“I have decided, in the interest of public safety and protection of our population, to review the public gathering advisories earlier announced.”
He said among the gatherings suspended were church services, weddings, funerals and other social gatherings.