Arson in Tamale as NPP and NDC clash

Two houses belonging to the Constituency Chairman of the National Democratic Congress is reported to have been torched in Gushegu following alleged confrontations between activists of the New Patriotic Party and the National Democratic Congress, on Sunday.

The victim, Mahama Djameni, also had his vehicles and other properties burnt, but no casualties have been reported.

Baba Djameni, the son of the constituency chairman who spoke to Joy news could not say exactly when the incident took place, but confirmed his father's Nissan Patrol and cargo truck have been burnt.

Earlier an NDC office in Tamale was reported to have been set on fire.

The arson is believed to be acts of reprisals to reports of gunshots at an NPP rally to herald the vice presidential hopeful Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia's visit.

Dr. Bawumia was whisked away as a result of the confusion.

Officials of the NDC have vehemently denied shooting at the rally and have accused the NPP of being behind the arsons in the region.

The Northern Regional General Secretary of the NDC who spoke to Joy Fms' Matilda Asante, claimed people in NPP 'T' shirts were behind the shooting.

Asked why NPP members will be in their party paraphernalia in committing such a crime, the General Secretary said; “If people become power drunk they can do anything.”

Moustafa Hamid, a spokesperson to the Vice presidential candidate, in a response to joy news rebutted claims that the NPP were responsible for the shooting, saying the NPP sympathizers could not have been responsible.

“How is it possible that we are the ones who will shoot and stone each other as a way to welcome our vice presidential candidate.” he asked.

Even though he conceded he did not know who were responsible for the gunshots, he alleged they came from a point notoriously known to be NDC hideouts.

On the activities of arsonists Hamid advised his supporters to exercise restraint, admitting that some disgruntled members of his party may have committed the crime as a form of revenge.

Meanwhile, the regional chairman of the NDC Sumani Zakaria has issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the police to arrest the arsonists or the NDC will defend it self.

Author: Nathan Gadugah