The New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate for the Asunafo South Constituency, George Yaw Boakye, narrowly escaped death yesterday when gunmen, believed to be members of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), shot him in his residence at Sankore in the Brong-Ahafo Region.
Though Mr Yaw Boakye, former law maker, managed to escape unhurt, two members of his campaign team – Kofi Boakye and one only named as Taller – sustained various degrees of injury from the gunshots.
They are currently receiving treatment at the Goaso Government Hospital.
During his recent visit to the area, the NPP flag bearer, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, bemoaned the brutalities being visited on the people by purported appointees of the ruling government.
The people of the community, especially members of the NPP, cannot openly express their political views, for fear of being attacked by elements believed to be NDC activists.
Thursday’s attack was part of the ongoing brutalities.
Speaking to DAILY GUIDE on phone about the attack on him, Mr Boakye said at about 9:30 pm on Thursday, he returned from a campaign tour in the constituency and decided to listen to news on TV. He said as he was doing that in his living room, he heard stones being thrown into his house and at the doors.
“There were also gunshots that penetrated the windows and the doors, injuring one Kofi Boakye and another called Taller. After that, all he heard was ‘let’s go, let’s go.’”
Mr Boakye said it was his wife who shouted and said, “Se Mo aku no. Se Mo aku no,” (meaning “You’ve killed him. You’ve killed him”).
According to him, the gunmen came in a pick-up and could count about 15 of them as they jumped onto the vehicle and sped off.
He believed they are members of the NDC.
Items destroyed in the house by assailants included a pick-up, doors and windows. He has since reported the case to the police in the district but nobody has yet been arrested as at press time last night.
Further enquiries at the regional police headquarters indicated that the incident has not come to the notice of the police yet.
FROM Daniel Y Dayee, Sankore