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01.09.2010 Regional News

GUNS & CUDGELS RULE @ ATIWA

By Ghanaian Chronicle
Dr. Afari Gyan, EC bossDr. Afari Gyan, EC boss
01.09.2010 LISTEN

The desperate attempt by the two main political parties in the country, the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), and main opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), to exercise political supremacy over the other, nearly led to bloodshed during yesterday's Atiwa bye-election.

The ugly scene created by the two parties led to the injury of some people at Abomosu, after the driver of the National Women's Organiser of the NDC, Madam Anita De Souza, allegedly drove her car into a group of people who were demonstrating against the activities of the 'Azorka boys,' who were reportedly terrorising the people of the town.

Available information indicates that some youth of the town, in the course of the demonstration, blocked the road to prevent vehicles from crossing.

The police had to fire tear gas and several warning shots to disperse the crowd to clear the road. In the process, the Eastern Regional Secretary of the NPP, Mr. Prince Aboagye, was arrested.  Two journalists – Mr. Edwin Gawuga of Accra-based Radio Gold, and Mr. Takyi Boateng of the Daily Graphic, who were at the scene to cover the event, were mercilessly beaten and held hostage by the irate youth.

The Minority Leader, Mr. Osei-Kyei Mensah-Bonsu, speaking on Citi FM's eyewitness programme, confirmed the skirmishers at Abomosu.

'Just as we were at the police barrier, they came with a taxi that contained four people who had sustained various degrees of injuries. One was severely wounded, and we asked them to take him to Nkawkaw Hospital.

Just as were about leaving the place, another three people who had sustained various degrees of injuries were brought in.

So, we saw four people who had got injured, and we saw three people who had also sustained injuries. But, we were later informed that one of the four people who was in the taxi had died, but we never saw it with our naked eyes. So, I can't confirm or deny that,' noted the Minority Leader.

He, however, complained bitterly about the actions of the Azorka boys.

The Deputy General Secretary of the NDC, Kofi Adams, also claimed on the same radio stations, 'They were attacking, and just not allowing the NDC people to participate in the electoral process. Our Deputy Propaganda Secretary was given a hefty slap, and he even landed on the floor,' he said.

According to him, the Deputy Women's Organizer of the NDC was also attacked in an attempt to prevent her from observing the elections.

'I am sure they became a little desperate, when they realised that all their means and ways to rig the elections were being blocked. And that the kind of turnout that they were getting when people were voting three or four times was not going to be possible,' he said.

Whilst the police were dealing with the Abomosu incident, another group of irate youth broke into a store indentified as 'Nyame Adom Nti' at the Anyinam lorry station, and seized 17 machetes.

According to The Chronicle investigation, the group, which was later identified as 'Bamba boys,' claimed the 'Azorka boys' were intimidating their supporters at Abomosu, hence, they were also moving to the place to seek revenge.

The storekeeper, Mr. Kofi Gyasi, speaking to The Chronicle shortly after the group had left, said he was in the shop when the people entered and started collecting the machetes without telling him anything.

According to him, the machetes, which cost GH¢1,135, was later paid for by some two gentlemen, whose names were not given, but claimed to come from the NPP National Headquarters.

Speaking to Joy FM later in the evening, the National Chairman of NPP, Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, commended the police for the professional manner in which they manned the police stations.

He was however, unhappy that they failed to arrest Anita De Souza and her driver, after they had driven through the people at Abomosu, and injured several of them.

Earlier reports received by The Chronicle indicated that one person died after the Anita De Souza incident, but the driver who carried the victims to the Engresi Clinic for treatment, Isaac Aidoo, told The Chronicle that nobody died.

He however admitted that some of the victims had severe injuries.

As at the time of going to press, all indications showed that the NPP was clearly in the lead, and was going to retain the Atiwa seat.

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