Disgruntled supporters resort to vandalism

Some disgruntled supporters of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Ablekuma South constituency are suspected to be behind the defacing of the party's billboards and posters in the constituency after the just ended constituency primary to elect the parliamentary candidate.

The supporters were allegedly peeved by the election of Mr. Morrison Hammond whom they accused of being an imposter planted by the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

The Chronicle gathered that the supporters had told Mr. Hammond point blank that they would assist the Convention People's Party's (CPP) candidate, Mr. Stanley Sackey in his campaign rather than him.

The supporters, who took to the streets after the primary, allegedly defaced about four billboards bearing the pictures of the party's Presidential Candidate, Professor Evans Attah Mills and the parliamentary candidate and removed countless posters, some of which were placed at Mamprobi Methodist area, Lavender Hill at Korle Gonno and the Ring Road near the mortuary. The billboards were defaced with thick brown paint, making it impossible to identify the pictures on them.

Mr. Hammond told The Chronicle that the perception of the electorate in the constituency was that the NPP was behind the act but his investigations had revealed that a faction of the NDC opposed to him, had done it.

He said this was an entrenched position taken by some followers of his opponent in the primary, Mr. Ekow Manly-Speine.

" I am not going to say that it's Ekow who is doing that but I know it's some of his followers because they told me that I would see how I could win the elections and that they would campaign for the CPP man," Hammond alleged.

He said in spite of the stance of his opponents in the party, he was sure that on December 7, he would carry the day, stressing that the destruction of the billboards and posters had not affected his campaign; it had rather gained him more sympathy from the electorate, which would be very beneficial in the elections.

"I am a speculator, I sit down and look at the advantages in life and if something is to my advantage, I leave it for a while. I am gaining solidarity; people think it's the NPP which is behind the demolition so they say they will not vote for the NPP." Mr. Hammond said.

The Chorkor branch chairman of the NDC, Mr. George Tettey, who spoke to The Chronicle, said he too suspected that Mr. Manly-Speine's supporters were behind the destruction.

He said during the primary, there was exchange of blows between factions of Mr. Hammond and Mr. Manly-Speine, adding that it was a shame this was happening at the time when the NDC should unite to take advantage of the current unpopular rating of the NPP in the constituency.

Mr. Tettey, however, gave the assurance that every effort would be made by the constituency executive to reconcile the two factions.