Shameful attacks sinking Ghana's image – NPP

An avid NPP supporter, who sustained wounds during the attack on Wednesday

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has condemned Wednesday's alleged attack on the party's Ablekuma South Constituency Parliamentary candidate in the Odododiodio constituency. 

Ursula Owusu, an avowed critic of the Mills government, was reportedly attacked by supposed National Democratic Congress (NDC) thugs during a tour of the hot-blooded constituency. 

Her party claimed she was in the constituency to encourage residents to register in the ongoing biometric registration exercise when she and her entourage came under attack. 

At a news conference on Thursday, the Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Prof. Mike Ocquaye, partly blamed police personnel in the area for the troubles, claiming the peace officers closed their doors on the under-siege NPP candidate when she ran to them for refuge.

'These shameful events are happening because the NDC candidate from Odododiodio has declared this place a no-go area for people he perceives as political opponents,' Prof. Ocquaye said. 

'We want to say that no territory in Ghana is exclusive to anyone or any ethnic group. There can be no no-go area in Ghana whatsoever, Kantamanto has got all the tribes in Ghana - Mamprusi, Hausa, Dagombas, Ewes, Akans, Fantis, Gas.'

The lawmaker added: 'The Attack on Ursula, who seeks to do politics as a woman is a serious blow to Ghanaian womanhood. Today, there are only 19 women out of the 230 MPs. While we are looking for more, the few who seek to stand are being so badly treated. 

'Every Ghanaian has freedom to monitor the registration anywhere in Ghana. Those who are concocting the lie that Ursula insulted someone should be ashamed of themselves.'

The news conference was held in a charged partisan atmosphere in the predominantly Ga-speaking-community, providing a perfect platform for a horde of NPP loyalists to freely direct verbal attacks at Presidential Aide Nii Lantey Vanderpuye, whom they had accused of orchestrating yesterday's attacks. 

Last night, Mr. Vanderpuye spoke to  Citi News  during which he denied any complicity in the troubles. But, at today's news conference Prof Oquaye insisted that Mr. Vanderpuye cannot feign ignorance in the matter.

Source: Citifmonline