Members of the St Joseph Catholic church in Ayeduase, a suburb of Kumasi in the Ashanti region have clashed with chiefs of the community over the ownership of a parcel of land.

Both factions are laying claim to the land. Nana Bonsafo Opoku Agyemang and his subjects invaded the land which has been under dispute for a while now.

The timely intervention of the police averted a possible blood bath.

The incident has led to the disappearance of the Rev Father for the Church Emmanuel Apem. Rev Apem has reportedly been missing for the last five days.

The youth of the Church are demanding the return of their pastor. A youth leader Nana Boakye in an interview with Starr News said any attempt to bring a replacement for the Rev. Father will be resisted.

Boakye added that their church has been locked for several days since the clashes started.

“Our bishop and his elders have taken our priest from here and we don’t know where he has been taken to. Our Church has also been closed and locked,” Boakye told Starr News.

But the Kumasi Diocese of the Catholic Church has justified the decision to remove the reverend father from the community.

According to the church, the life of Rev Emmanuel Apem was under threat hence the decision.

Starr News understands the Asantehene has summoned both the Church and the chiefs for an amicable resolution of the land dispute.

Vicar for Priests and Religious affairs for the Kumasi Diocese father Stephen Gyantua told Starr News that all will be done to ensure calm returns to the community.