General News of Tuesday, 5 January 2010

Source: Daily Guide

Minister Declares War On NPP

THE Ashanti Regional Minister, Kofi Poku Manu, has tasked supporters of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to subject to severe beatings, any member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) who passes unsavoury comments about the ruling party.

In a clear demonstration of a violent nature, the one-time Ashanti Regional Coordinating Director categorically charged NDC supporters to give hefty blows to any NPP member who would dare criticize the Mills government.

The Regional Minister contended that this violent approach by NDC supporters would put the fear of God into NPP supporters and prevent them from criticizing the Mills government.

Mr. Poku Manu explained that he was particularly in favour of this approach because the NPP members had made it their grand agenda to ensure that the NDC failed so that they could come back to power.

“I’m urging you to beat them because, in this world we do not wish good for our detractors nor deal leniently with them,” he noted amidst wild cheers from party supporters.

The advanced-in-age Regional Minister made these nation-wrecking remarks when he took his turn to address supporters of the party during the joint campaign launch of Johnson Asiedu Nketia and Dr Kwabena Adjei in Kumasi on Sunday at the Prempeh Assembly Hall.

After unduly inciting the supporters, Mr. Poku Manu entreated them to close their ranks and build a united front to enable the party retain power in the 2012 elections.

He emphasized that the Mills government was committed to fulfilling its campaign promise of building a better Ghana for all and sundry and therefore entreated them to be patient.

Meanwhile, a nasty scene was nearly created at the venue of the launch when the Chief Executive of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), Samuel Sarpong, lost his temper and almost pounced on a supporter of the party.

It all started when Hajia Adisa Atta Commander, a staunch Zongo supporter of the party, without provocation, hurled unprintable insults on the KMA boss in the presence of party officials and supporters.

As chairman of the occasion, Mr. Sarpong was on his feet to deliver his opening remarks to set the ball rolling but before he could open his mouth to speak, Hajia Adisa started raining insults on him to the surprise of the gathering.

Ostensibly irritated by the woman’s behaviour, the KMA boss, before retiring to his seat, attempted to pounce on Hajia Adisa, who was still hovering around the high table, but was restrained by other party officials on the table.

Though Asiedu Nketia, Dr Kwabena Adjei and a host of other party gurus who were seated on the high table were shocked by Mr. Sarpong’s reaction, they kept their composure, calmed the KMA boss down, and drove Hajia Adisa away from the high table.