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WHAT WAS intended to be a peaceful demonstration by the youth and people of Aflao to demand a separate municipality, last Friday nearly turned bloody after a clash between protestors and police. The clash which saw police officers firing tear gas, warning shots and lashing protestors was prompted by the protestors� attempt to take over the Aflao Police Station to free one of their colleagues who had been arrested. The suspect whose name was not given according to the police was misbehaving and fomenting violence in the crowd. After his arrest near the Denu Junction, all the protestors marched to the Aflao Police Station demanding his immediate release. The protestors who were growing impatient then started forcing their way into the station before police intervened to stop them. In the process six others were arrested. The leaders of the group later intervened and calmed the crowed while they facilitated the release of the seven. Order was restored and the demonstrators returned to the streets to continue their demonstration. Prior to the clashes they marched through the principal streets of Aflao starting from the border area through to Denu Junction where they returned and converged at the Victory Park to read their petition and send copies of it to the President through the DCE. The demonstration led by the Aflao Youth Association (AYA) brought together about 1,500 protestors including motor riders all clad in red. They danced to brass band music and �jama� songs holding placards that read �No municipality no vote,� �we don�t deserve this treatment from the NDC,� �Nothing less than a municipality for Aflao,� �World Bank turning into a rural bank� and �NDC should not count on us again in 2012� among others. The demonstrators said residents of Aflao would not be appeased by the designation of Ketu-South with two constituencies as a new Legislative Instrument (LI) before parliament sought to do. This latest demonstration followed an earlier one held a little over a week ago by some NDC youth when the LI laid before parliament concerning the creation of new districts had the name of Ketu-South removed. They expressed concern about the decision, but Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, Samuel Owusu Ampofo explained that some technical challenges had come up which could be resolved. Finally, the minister announced last week that Ketu South will be made a municipality instead of being divided and that two constituencies will now be created. The people were however unhappy with this development hence their decision to stage the second demonstration. The petition signed by president of the AYA, Christian Yevunya and copied to the President, described the posture of government over the issue as a �betrayal of the loyalty of the people of Aflao to the ruling party over the years� adding �we will change our voting pattern in response to the continuous disrespect the NDC government has shown towards the people of Ketu south.� �The people of Aflao are no longer interested in living under the current Ketu-South district whether it is promoted to a municipal status or not. We want a separate municipality for Aflao.� The petition also dismissed the allegation of boundary disagreement cited by government saying the memorandum of the chiefs did not show any disagreement. It urged government to revert to the original decision of creating the Aflao Municipal Assembly to foster accelerated development of the area. Bernard Amarble, Ketu-South DCE who received the petition on behalf of government, appealed to residents to exercise restraint stressing that demonstrations are not the solution to every situation. He assured them of government�s goodwill adding that dialogue and lobbying were needed to resolve the issue.