DOCTOR'S CAR BURNT IN BAWKU (PAGE 14)

Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga

A Vehicle belonging to the medical officer of the Bawku Hospital, Dr Francis Asana, was set ablaze on Monday by a group of young men in the third day of renewed conflict in Bawku.
Abanga Akudugu, the driver of the Mitsubishi pick-up, escaped unhurt.
Abanga, a Kusasi, was said to have driven to Natinga, a predominantly Mamprusi area, to do some shopping when the car was attacked and set on fire.
Dr Asana is also a Kusasi.
The burning of the car was seen as retaliation for the alleged hijacking and burning of a cargo truck at Binaba earlier.
The incident came after six rooms in four houses had been completely burnt down and a cargo truck, as well as a welding shop, set ablaze over the weekend.
A police source told the Daily Graphic that about 2.00 p.m. on Monday, rumours went round Bawku that a truck belonging to a Moshie had been hijacked by some Kusasis at Binaba and burnt.
The police source said just around that time, Dr Asana’s car, which had gone to the centre of the town, was spotted and burnt.
When the Upper East Regional Police Commander, Mr Victor Seth Agbetornyo, was contacted, he confirmed the story and said the police were investigating.
Earlier on Sunday, a welding shop was set ablaze around Mognori in the Bawku Municipality.
Mr Agbetornyo said the incident occurred about 6.00 p.m.
He said efforts by security personnel who were patrolling the streets to arrest the suspects — three unidentified persons on a motorbike — yielded no results as the three sped off.
Still in Bawku, some unidentified armed men were alleged to have stormed Sabongeri, a predominantly Kusasi community, and fired a series of warning shots about 1:30 a.m. on Tuesday.
According to the Regional Crime Officer, four houses were also set ablaze. However, residents of the area were able to bring the fire under control.
Mr Agbetornyo renewed his appeal to warring factions in the area to allow peace to prevail and urged the people, especially the opinion leaders, to commit themselves to the communiqué adopted after last Tuesday’s peace dialogue held in Bolgatanga.
Meanwhile, an 18-year-old man, Issaka Fuseini, who claims to be a carpenter at Bawku, is in the grips of the police for allegedly possessing ammunition.
Mr Agbetornyo told the Daily Graphic in Bolgatanga, that Issaka was arrested on February 15, 2008 after breaking curfew hours.
He said a search on him revealed one G3 ammunition, a military camouflage cap with a badge, as well as an axe.
He said the suspect would soon be arraigned.