NDC assures Ghanaians of free, fair and peaceful elections

Cape Coast, Nov 12, GNA - Mr Ebo Barton-Odro, the Cape Coast Constituency Parliamentary Candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has given the assurance that the Party was committed to peaceful, free and fair elections.

Mr Barton-Odro said this at a press conference the Party organised to protest against the alleged destruction of the Party's Office by New Patriotic Party (NPP) supporters.

He said the incident was sparked off by a misunderstanding between the two Parties in front of the NDC Office at Anaafo in Cape Coast. He accused the NPP supporters of destroying the main door to the office and inflicting injuries on the NDC Regional Youth Organiser, Kofi Adams and others.

The Parliamentary Candidate said the NDC intended to hold a mini rally at Papratam in Cape Coast, near the Party's Office on November 9 and notified the Police.

He said on Monday November 8, the Police pleaded with the Party to reschedule its rally billed for Tuesday November 9 because President John Agyekum Kufuor would be visiting Cape Coast and was scheduled to attend an NPP rally at the Chapel Square. Mr Barton-Odro said the President did not attend the NPP rally at the Chapel Square and their supporters moved to Anaafo, near the NDC's Office and blurred out music at a time NDC Youth Groups were holding a meeting. He said a report was made to the Police and when they arrived at the scene, they could not bring the situation under control. Mr Barton-Odro alleged that NPP supporters threw stones; bottles and bagged iced water into the NDC office, so the Police threw tear-gas to disperse the crowd. He congratulated NDC supporters, who protected the Party's property, and pleaded with the injured to exercise restraint and not to retaliate. When contacted, the Special Assistant to Ms Christine Churcher, Nana Amissah, said the NPP was granted permit by the Police to hold the rally at Anaafo and that the function started after 1700 hours when the NDC Office had closed.