Blows In Obuasi NDC

Kwabena Adjei, NDC Chairman

Kwabena Adjei, NDC Chairman
Efforts by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to elect new officers for the Obuasi East constituency of the Ashanti Region turned bloody when two groups, whose members are battling for positions in the constituency, slugged it out, during which the incumbent Chairman, Francis Coffie, was injured.

He was still at the hospital as at press time yesterday, with cuts, bruises and a swollen eye, after his assailants had hit him with a pew on the forehead before allegedly subjecting him to severe beatings Monday evening.

The attack was said to have been carried out by eight people – some of whom have been identified as Oluguard and his brother, Abodie and one Yaw – all members of the NDC at gold town of Obuasi.

It is not clear who orchestrated the attack as perceived leaders of the two factions, John Ackah and Clement Sangapare, accused each other of having a hand in the action that took place at the Tutuka office of the party around 2:30 pm, reportedly perpetrated by the NDC goons.

The incident, which is under police investigation, happened when the thugs stormed the office to teach the incumbent Chairman 'a bitter lesson' for what they perceived to be attempts to manipulate the electoral process to favour his preferred candidates.

Mr. Francis Coffie was alleged to have initially denied some 15 people of nomination forms to contest the election – a move believed to have triggered the action.

According to John Ackah, the Constituency Organizer, Chairman Coffie's attackers included three men who accompanied a Propaganda Secretary aspirant, Clement Sangapare, to the party office when the later visited the place to buy his nomination form.

But Mr. Sangapare in an interview with DAILY GUIDE, flatly denied the allegation, and counter accused Mr. Ackah for being the architect of the bloody attack.

He said the Constituency Organizer, a day after the Chairman's assault, again ordered another group of NDC hooligans numbering five, to attack him (Sangapare), while he was at the constituency office around 3:00 pm.

He identified four of his assailants by their nicknames to the paper as Pusher, Timber, Ananga, and Sarbog – all persons belonging to the NDC – who he alleged damaged his motor cycle in the process.

The Obuasi constituency of the NDC has remained in disarray for many years with undercurrent issue of hijacking of the party by the Organizer, John Ackah and the Chairman, Francis Coffie.

Mr. Ackah blames the confusion on Mr. Sangapare who allegedly leads a factional group that is vying for positions in the executive committee.

His division is said to be made up of Messrs Raymond Coffie, Daniel Fordjoe and Faruk Oman as aspirants contesting to become Chairman, Secretary and Organizer respectively in the constituency.

Those purported to be in the camp of John Ackah are Francis Coffie, William Kofi Azowu, aka Bigi and Hajia Mawunatu Mohammed - all of who had bought forms to run for Chairman, Secretary and Women Organizer respectively

FROM Ernest Kofi Adu, Kumasi
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