DISTURBING PHOTOS: Clashes galore as Ghana inches closer to elections

• Posted on November 21, 2016
• by Nana Kwesi Coomson
• Comment

As the December polls draws closer, the nation is still grappling with how to deal with pockets of violence that have characterised political activities of the major political parties – opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC).

So far, about 13 people have been injured in the various clashes, and the disturbing trend calls for attention from all well-meaning Ghanaians.

During last Sunday, supporters of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) who were undertaking separate health walks clashed at Koforidua-Asokore in the New Juaben Municipality of the Eastern Region, leading to five people sustaining various degrees of injury.

The fracas reportedly happened when the NDC supporters, together with their leader, Apaw Wiredu Haruna, embarked on the exercise from the Effiduase Prison Park to Oyoko.

On November 13, 2016, hundreds of National Democratic Congress (NDC) T-shirt clad youth allegedly attacked the Nima residence of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, hurling bottles of alcoholic beverages and stones into the house.

Scenes from the clash at Nana Akufo-Addo’s Residence at Nima

 Their bid to invade the house was said to have been aborted by two private security men at the gate who reportedly fired warning shots into the air. Nana Addo was in the Brong-Ahafo Region campaigning towards the December 7 polls at the time of the incident.

Another clash was also recorded at Asunafo when the New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate for the Asunafo South Constituency, George Yaw Boakye, narrowly escaped death 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 on Wednesday.

Though Mr Yaw Boakye, former lawmaker, 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.

Two weeks ago, some angry members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Odododiodioo Constituency in Accra also besieged the Jamestown Police Station demanding the immediate release of three of their members – Teddy Moore, Nii Koodi and another young man whose name was only given as Prince.

It follows their arrest the previous night in relation to clashes between supporters of the party and those of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) after separate rallies.

-Daily Guiide