Police tighten security at Winneba as NDC, NPP supporters clash

There are reports of uneasy calm within the Winneba township, and fears of reprisal following yesterday's clashes between NDC and NPP supporters in the Efutu constituency in the Central Region.

The police have deployed personnel to potential flashpoints in the area to maintain law and order there.

The incident which occurred late afternoon Monday left more than ten people from both sides with various degrees of injury.

Those involved in the incident have given different accounts as to what triggered the clashes.

Assembly member for Alata Kokoado Electoral area, and the Efutu constituency youth organizer of the NDC who was at the scene narrated his version of the story to Joy News.

Mr Michael Abeeku Nyarko accused the NPP parliamentary candidate, Alexander Afenyo-Markin of peddling falsehood on radio, citing a claim by Mr Afenyo-Markin that he brought portable water to his (Nyarko's) area.

Explaining the immediate cause of the clashes Monday, he said the NPP Parliamentary candidate had laid claim to some development projects in his area, prompting him to place his finger on Mr Markin's chest to make a firm point to him to stop spreading false information for electoral purposes.

The NPP candidate, he recalled, was infuriated by his action and “he slapped me”. He told Joy News that after receiving the slap, he lunged forward to retaliate but was restrained.

“He went to sit in his car and then the people were giving him fans for slapping me. He was telling me that he has slapped me and the next time I play the fool, he will slap me again,” Mr. Nyarko narrated.

Soon after, he said, they met again and he had wanted to also slap Alexander Markin but some observers intervened when they were sizing each other up.

Giving his side of the story, Alexander Markin told Joy News he was warned by Nyarko that he should “be careful”, otherwise they will “deal” with him for speaking on radio, but “I ignored him”.

He also accused the NDC's youth organiser of slapping him while he was in his car. “Then he attacked me again, pushed me onto the street and two others also joined,” but some women standing by came to his assistance and the police were called in, he recounted.

Joy News' Central Regional correspondent Richard Kwadwo Nyarko who visited Winneba observed that supporters of both parties were peeved about the incident, and warned there could be possible reprisals.

However, he said, the police are patrolling the area to ensure peace and order is maintained.