GhanaPoliticsOnline.Com
Nine persons have been confirmed dead at the Manhyia Government Hospital in Kumasi following an alleged stampede that occurred at the Asawase Community Centre in the Asokore Mampong Municipality of Ashanti Wednesday night.
The dead made up of six women and three men, were among a group of people who had patronised a night jam at the Community Centre as part of activities marking Eid-ul Fitr.
Six others who sustained injuries are still on admission at the hospital and are responding to treatment.
GBC’s correspondent reports that a large crowd including parents and leaders of the Muslim and Zongo communities thronged the hospital to identify their relatives.
Some of them said they were there to find out whether or not their relatives were among either the injured or dead, claiming that some of their family members who went out Wednesday had still not reported to the house as at Thursday morning.
One of the eyewitnesses, Iddris Abdulai who spoke to journalists, narrated what exactly caused the unfortunate occurrence.
The Police have taken over investigations into the incident.
Meanwhile, the Asokore Mampong Municipal Chief Executive, Alhaji Nurudeen Hamidan, has visited the injured and also commiserated with the bereaved families.
He told the media that the Municipal Security Council will convene an emergency meeting to consider the matter and conduct full scale investigations to unravel all the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Families of the nine persons who died in the Salafest stampede at Asawase have identified their relations and awaiting release of their bodies for burial. Six of the injured are responding to treatment.
The Acting Divisional Commander of Manhyia, Supt Samuel Adane Ameyaw in an interview with Radio Ghana said investigations into the case have started.
He said although the organisers of the programme have not been identified, the police will get to the bottom of the case.
