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Schools have been closed down indefinitely following renewed clashes at Oshiyie in the Ga South Municipality of the Greater Accra Region between Nii Afrade Annor and Nii Akrashie families over who is the rightful authority to install a chief in the area.

The Sunday, June 17, clashes followed series of several others within a space of four months which have been published by the DAILY HERITAGE where more than 15 people sustained various degrees of injuries such as cutlass wounds, gunshot and other life threatening injuries.

Following the clashes, teachers, pregnant women, children and strangers have abandoned the town while the few residents seen around transact business during the day and abandon the town when night approaches.

Speaking to the DAILY HERITAGE in an interview, the Assembly member for the area, Mr Rockson Saka Allotey, said teachers in the area had also abandoned duty for fear of their lives.

Mr Allotey said about 10 people were attacked with machetes on Sunday around 3:00 p.m. in their homes, in church, on the street, in taxis and on moving vehicles.

He said the Sunday incident was not new to the people because from the beginning of the year, there had been constant assaults on members of each faction over who has the authority to install a chief in the area.

Recounting the events in the area, Mr Allotey said Oshiyie had existed for the past 60 years but began experiencing chieftaincy crisis 17 years ago following the death of the then chief from the Nii Afrade Annor family.

“If they lived in peace for 60 years in the past it means something was right then and that thing must be traced,” he stated.

He said currently the people in the area had lost confidence in the police service, adding that any time the police arrested suspects, they were released within minutes.

Police account

Speaking to the DAILY HERITAGE in an interview, the District Police Commander, DSP Simon Agbedeka confirmed last Sunday’s clashes in which about 10 people sustained injuries.

DSP Agbedeka added that they had issued 10 police hospital forms to some of the injured residents, but they were yet to return the forms and they are receiving treatment at the Ga South Municipal Hospital. He said investigations were underway to apprehend the perpetrators of the crime.