Since the last several decades, places like Nima and Ashaiman which take the bulk of settler communities under arrangements with indigenous communities have cut a sorry picture of themselves as den of criminals, though out of these same communities have come illustrious sons of Ghana including musicians, footballers, academics and eminent jurists.
It is on record that when crimes are committed and police chase suspects, the prime areas they comb include Nima and Ashaiman where the heterogeneous communities offer sufficient refuge because of the unplanned architecture.
It turns out that in most cases the police are right, though again these polyglot communities have also been vibrant economic hubs.
Choice, upbringing
Most analysts expressing opinion on the matter have blamed the culture of insipid criminality on lack of jobs, and for which governments must be held accountable.
Others have also attributed it to the raising of kids in such environments, which, like others, also have schools and makaranta as well as the records of responsible youth ‘beating’ that wrong image to become top businessmen and renowned professionals.
Set against the records, however, this particular incident about two opposing youth groups from Nima and Maamobi engaging in bloody clashes appears a bit surprising. This is because Nima has, for decades now, been ‘decent’ and its youth generally restrained.
That had been manifest in the relatively quiet atmosphere that characterised elections from 2004, after the 2000 burning of a hotel whose owner was tagged NPP and victimised.
That improved environment can be attributed to the influence of Muslim clerics led by IC Quaye (though he is resident in a neighouring constituency) and Sheikh Dr Nuhu Sharubutu, the Chief Imam, whose singular contribution to peace in Zongos in Ghana today is remarkable.
Brotherhood, not gangs
As most informed persons in indigenous Accra would admit, Nima and Maamobi are close neighbourhoods knit together traditionally by football, with teams from either side playing the other almost every weekend. Even during political seasons, they try as much as possible to keep to that friendly code.
It is like boys from Palm Wine Junction (La) and Burma Camp or Labone and Cantonment relating through football and other sports at the First Gate or Prisons Pitch. Beautiful!
That is why the call for peace and brotherliness from the Chief Imam should be taken serious by the youth. They need to heed the advice and return to civilised ways of engagements.
Deterrence
It is the opinion of the Daily Statesman that thorough investigations are conducted to establish the real motive behind the gang war that has put lives to agony and still threatens the twin communities.
That is important in separating the criminals from the citizens and restoring cultural and economic relations as we live and work together in attaining our national goals.
As for the gang leaders and perpetrators, we believe it is every Ghanaian’s wish that when they are found guilty, they should serve maximum sentences to serve as deterrence to Zongo boys and other unruly youth in the Nimas, Ejuras, Ashaimans and other Zongos in Ghana.
We need to begin rebranding our Zongos, not only in letter and political programmes but in the spirit of community and national integration.
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