The construction of an artificial football pitch at the Penkwase 'Sakora' Park in the Sunyani Municipality has sparked controversy at the Sunyani Zongo, with the Muslims threatening to hit the street on Thursday August 16, 2024.

The leadership of the Zongo community in Sunyani had officially notified the police about the intended demonstration, accordingly. Mr Kwasi Amyeaw- Cheremeh, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Sunyani East lobbied and the Bui Power Authority (BPA), the managers of the Bui Generating Station, is funding GHC5.5 million artificial football pitch with ancillary facilities.

The 500-seater capacity project, which has VIP stands, changing rooms and floodlights is being executed by the Accra-based Wembley Sports Construction Company Limited (WSCCL), However, the Zongo community said they were unhappy that the construction of the spectator stands would encroach on the Barhamiya Islamic Basic School lands, that would affect the development of the school and had therefore notified the police of an impending protest. A letter of notification issued by the Office of the Bono Regional Chief Imam signed by Alhaji Yusif Imoru, Board Chairman, and sighted by Sompa FM said "the Moslem Ummah and Zongo community in general herein give notice to the Municipal Police command of our intention to undertake the demonstration".

"The Chiefs and Imams and the Zongo Community have made a presentation to both the Sunyani Municipal Assembly and the Sunyani Traditional Council of our disagreement on the construction of the spectator stands on the peace of land".

"In spite of the presentation, we noticed efforts being made on Sunday August 4, 2024 to commence construction of the stands hence our decision to demonstrate to bring home our insistence to disagree with the use of the piece of school's land to construct the stands on stated grounds already made to both the Assembly and the Traditional Council", the letter stated.

The demonstration would commence at the Barhamiya School through to the Penkwase Traffic light, tum left up to the Zongo one-way junction, then along the Zongo one-way up to Mossey Pharmacy, tum left up to the Coronation park, tum right up to REX and then move left to the SMA to present a petition to the Sunyani Municipal Chief Executive.

Sompaonline.com/K.Peprah