The police in Somanya, Eastern Region, has arrested 14 people for breaching the ban on public gathering instituted as part of measures to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, to perform an initiation ceremony for girls known as ‘dipo’.

The suspects were rounded up by the Somanya District Police Command on Saturday, 2 May 2020, at a village called Sawer.

They include Samuel Lawer Opata – 85, Tetteh Rebecca – 70, Korkor Esther – 45, Vivian Amish – 45, Grace Tetteh – 40, Bernice Tetteh – 38, Opata Mercy – 35, Nartey Eunice – 40, Lovelace Emmanuel Odonkor – 70 and five minors.

The arrest was upon a tipoff.

The suspects were cautioned and granted court bail to appear before the Somanya District Magistrate Court on Monday.

So far, COID-19 has killed 18 out of the 2,169 confirmed cases in Ghana with 229 recoveries.