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NPP flagbearer race: Alan supporters allege death threats on them

By MyJoyOnline
NPP NPP flagbearer race: Alan supporters allege death threats on them
SEP 18, 2014 LISTEN

Some executives of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Central Region are alleging that death threats have been issued on them for supporting flagbearer aspirant of the party, Mr. Alan Kyerematen.

The executives, who are mainly polling station and constitution executives of the party claim they have received threatening text messages from some unknown persons.

The polling station and constituency executives say some regional executives of the party in the central -- who most likely support the other two contenders in the flagbearer race, Nana Akufo-Addo and Francis Addai Nimoh – are behind the death threats.

At a news conference Thursday, the executives said they have also suffered verbal abuses for their choice of candidate.

These allegations are coming a month to National Delegates' Conference on October 18 to elect a candidate to lead the party in the 2016 presidential elections.

Infighting and bickering within the party in recent times have been attributed to perceived divisions along the camps of Akufo-Addo and Alan Kyerematen.

Also, the three persons competing for the slot, Nana Akufo-Addo, Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen and Francis Addai Nimoh have recently been hit by disagreements about the scheduled date for the elections.

Mr Kyerematen and Addai Nimoh favour a change of date to allow them time to campaign, but Mr. Akufo-Addo does not.

Joy News' Central Region Correspondent, Richard Kwadwo Nyarko, who was at the press conference said he was shown two test messages allegedly coming from some party regional executives.

“They also provided some evidence to the fact that one person who voted for Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen during the August 31 primaries was also taken to a room and was warned that if he votes that way in the October 18 elections, he should kiss his parliamentary ambitions good bye”, Richard reported.

Constituency Research Officer for the party, Alfred Taylor said on Joy FM's Top Story Thursday apart from receiving two suspension letters for his support for Alan Kyerematen, he was assaulted physically today.

“As I am talking to you, I just came from the hospital. People attacked me and beat me up”, he told show anchor Evans Mensah.

He said the police who issued him with a police report to seek medical treatment after he reported the assault.

According to Mr Taylor, although he does know his attackers, whom he suspects were doing the bidding of some regional executives of the party, he would be able to identify them if he sees them.

But NPP Central Regional Secretary, Kwamena Duncan, said all of Mr Taylor's claim were spurious.

This is not the first time people supporting Mr. Kyerematen's bid are alleging violence against them.

In the 2010 flagbearership race similar claims were made by loyalists of the former Trade and Industry Minister; they claimed supporters of the lead contender, Nana Akufo-Addo had beaten them up mercilessly.

“All of this is just one word – it is scheming”, Mr Duncan said.

Listen to the programme on audio below:
  Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | George Nyavor | [email protected]

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