THE Northern Regional Police Command is engaging the various youth groups in the area to support the police to map out strategies to consolidate the prevailing peaceful atmosphere in the region.
According to the Northern Regional Police Commander, Mr Angwutogbe Awuni, “At the moment, the region is enjoying significant harmony. And for Tamale in particular, I can say that the metropolis is among the cities with the least crime rate in the country.”
He explained that it was in furtherance of consolidating these gains that his outfit was dialoguing with various stakeholders to strengthen the existing peaceful co-existence, especially as the annual Damba festival was approaching.
The commander was speaking during a meeting with the leadership of the Azorka Boys, an NDC youth group in Tamale, on Wednesday.
He acknowledged that even though over the years the festival had not recorded any violence in the area, his outfit was fortifying the security to avert any possible disturbances, particularly in the traditional Dagbon seat of Yendi.
Mr Awuni indicated that there had been some re-enforcement of police personnel at Yendi, and that they would also intensify police patrols in other areas of the region to ensure absolute peace before, during and after the festival. This year’s Damba will come off next weekend.
He commended the chiefs and people of the region, including all political parties, for their support and co-operation in the prevailing peaceful atmosphere in the area. Mr Awuni expressed appreciation to the membership of the Azorka group for their support in realising a successful national congress of the NDC in Tamale last month.
The leadership of the Azorka Boys pledged their commitment to the security and further expressed their preparedness to complement their efforts at engaging the various youth groups to ensure a peaceful observance of the time-tested festival.
Last week, the Northern Regional Security Council (REGSEC) called for the suspension of all funeral performances in the Yendi Municipality as preparations were underway for the performance of the festival in the area.
The REGSEC has also directed that the activities and the performance of the festival should be restricted to the temporary Gbewaa Palace so as to forestall any misunderstanding in the performance of the festival in the traditional area.
This was contained in a statement signed and issued by the Chairman of the REGSEC, Mr Moses Mabengba.
The festival is a merger between Islam and tradition practises and is celebrated by majority of the Muslim-dominated communities in the north, and largely by Dagombas.
It is, however, said to mark the birth and subsequent ‘‘outdooring’’ of the Prophet of Islam, Muhammed (S.A.W). It is used to offer sacrifices to show appreciation to Allah and also chart a new course for the coming years.
Activities for this year’s Damba will commence this week and end in the following weekend.
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