General News of Friday, 28 August 2009

Source: Kwadwo Asare-Baffour Acheampong/Asempa FM

NPP stalwarts exchange blows

Blows were exchanged between two New Patriotic Party (NPP) stalwarts at the studios of Asempa FM on the station’s current affairs program, Ekosii Sen, on Thursday, when tempers flared on certain pronouncements that bothered on the recent delegates conference of the party where major portions of the party’s constitution were amended.

Michael Ampong, a youth activist of the party, had strong reservations about an article written by Mahama Haruna, a former presidential correspondent of the Statesman Newspaper, published on Ghana Web and the Thursday August 27, 2009 edition of the Ghanaian Lens Newspaper.

The article, which became the subject of controversy, alluded to the fact that former President Kufuor and Alan Kyeremanten sponsored some supporters of the NPP to vote against the amendments of the NPP’s constitution.

According to Mahama Haruna, those who lost that vote were not in tune with the pulse of the party.

Michael Ampong, on the other hand, replied that Huruna's assertions were irresponsible.

This incensed Mahama Haruna, resulting in a confrontation between the two NPP members; Haruna therefore threw a blow at Michael Ampong who had then held his shirt.

Producers and other staff of Asempa FM had to rush to the studio to stop what had then degenerated into hefty fist cuffs.

Listeners will recall events prior to the emergency conference of the NPP were characterized by sharp opinions on whether the party had to adopt the then proposed amendments which were ultimately accepted by the delegates.