Politics of Saturday, 13 June 2015

Source: Daily Guide

Tension brews between NPP, NDC supporters

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A call has been made to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), the President of the Republic and the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC), to, as a matter of urgency, intervene in the seemingly looming tension that is brewing between supporters of the two major political parties, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) at Techiman in the Brong-Ahafo Region.

A leading member of the NDC in Techiman, Kwadwo Adjei, disclosed to DAILY GUIDE that the situation might get out of hands if the authorities fail to take the necessary steps to address the early warning signs.

According to him, information had reached the NDC leadership in the area that some supporters of the NPP had planned to revenge an acid attack on one of its members in Techiman Municipality during the 2012 electioneering campaigns which was allegedly orchestrated by some NDC supporters.

The supposed planned reprisal attack, he explained, is because the police in Techiman have failed to make any arrest though an NDC youth activist, Kwasi Attipoe, had publicly announced that he knew the perpetrators of that heinous acid attack.

The victim of the acid attack, Peter Mensah, was flown abroad by the leadership of the NPP and has successfully undergone some surgery.

“If the police allowed the perpetrators to walk free on the streets of Techiman, what do you think will happen?” quizzed.

He expressed concern about the violent nature of some NDC supporters in the municipality, adding, “Despite our individual political differences, we are still brothers and sisters and we must allow the laws to operate without any bias.”

Accusing some senior officials of the ruling NDC in the area of spearheading the acid and other violent attacks in the municipality, Mr Adjei called on the Techiman municipal chief executive and the Brong-Ahafo regional minister, to back off and allow the police to do its work.

“The unnecessary interference of some politicians in the work of the police will not only affect the justice delivery system, but also wane public trust and confidence in the police,” he bemoaned.

Mr Adjei cautioned that the 2016 elections would be chaotic in the Techiman Municipality if the police fail to arrest and prosecute the perpetrators who poured the acid on the NPP activist.

The NDC stalwart, therefore, appealed to the leadership of the NDC not to shield the perpetrators, but rather hand them over to the police for the party to restore its image and reputation.

He emphasized that from all indications, the NDC would retain power in 2016 and challenged the party leadership to ensure that all forms of acts that could mar the general elections are avoided.