BAWKU RESIDENTS CELEBRATE BLACK STARS VICTORIES IN HOMES (PAGE 22)

Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bawku

Ordinarily, the people of Bawku in the Upper East Region would have loved to be on the streets to celebrate a victory of any of the national teams with the tooting of the horns of their motorbikes and cars, but due to the curfew imposed on the town, the celebration is restricted to their various homes.
As a result of the recent conflict in Bawku, the government imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew on the Bawku township. However, following an improvement of the security situation, the curfew time was adjusted from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m.
Some people who spoke to the Daily Graphic at Bawku said although there was a general atmosphere of jubilation in town any time the Black Stars won the match, the jubilation was restricted to the homes of individuals.
One person, who gave his name as Sulemana, said despite the fact that the curfew started from 8 p.m., people were afraid to come out of their homes even after 6 p.m..
He said the curfew had not only affected the social life of the people but it had also taken a toll on the economic activities in the municipality.
Many drinking spots where people usually converged after football matches such as the current Africa Cup of Nations (Ghana 2008) soccer tournament, had recorded a drop in sales as a result of the curfew.
Mr Emmanuel Safo, the owner of Zanamat Drinking Spot at Bawku, said as a result of the curfew, the inhabitants who usually poured into the streets or gathered around the facility to enjoy themselves and demonstrate their happiness with the victory had restricted their jubilation to their respective homes and compounds.
"This has affected sales as the spot does not function like it used to be," he added.
Most of the people who spoke to the Daily Graphic expressed the conviction that the Black Stars would win the coveted trophy.