Youth in Kumasi have swapped toy guns for vuvuzelas and balloons following a police crackdown that led to the arrest of 26 individuals for public disturbances involving toy weapons.

The recent trend in the Ashanti Region saw young people turning streets, malls, and neighborhoods into mock battlegrounds, engaging in dramatic toy gun battles that sometimes mimicked robbery scenarios. Videos circulating on X (formerly Twitter) showed participants using toy guns fitted with firecrackers, adding a theatrical flair to the activities.

The Ghana Police Service stepped in, arresting participants for breaching public peace. The suspects are currently assisting with investigations, and a quantity of toy guns has been confiscated. The arrested individuals will be arraigned in court, while special operations continue to apprehend others involved in similar acts.

To avoid arrest, the youth have pivoted to using vuvuzelas and balloons in their street activities. However, the shift has sparked fresh concerns, with many criticizing the loud and disruptive noise caused by the vuvuzelas as a new form of nuisance.

The police have cautioned the public, reminding them that acts causing breaches of the peace contravene Section 207 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29). Investigations remain ongoing to address the situation and maintain order.