Following the clashes between supporters of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), and the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), on Sunday morning at Koforidua Effiduase, both parties have issued separate statements, condemning the act.
The Member of Parliament for the New Juaben North Constituency, Nana Adjei Boateng, in an interview with Citi News, said, “the New Juaben North Constituency has never experienced anything of this nature before in the history of politics in the constituency, we have held several floats and health walks in the constituency and we have never recorded any violence.”
Mr. Boateng was also shocked at the behavior of the police during the clash.
“The police personnel who were with us fled from the scene in seconds when the clash ensued, we were kept hostage for more than one and half hours, several calls I personally made to the Regional commander proved futile so I had to call the military command in Accra for them to inform their guys in the region to come to our aid before the police came.”
He called on the police not to be biased and begin a thorough investigation into the incident
“The police should not cover up or shield anybody, we believe in them and want them to arrest the perpetrators and let the law take its course.”
Haruna Appau Wiredu, the NDC parliamentary candidate, who also condemned the incident, said “it is reckless and uncalled for, such things should not be encouraged in our community.”
The victims who were sent to the St. Joseph and SDA Hospitals, have been treated and discharged, however residents in the constituency still harbour fears should both parties be allowed to organize such walks again.
The Regional police command met with the leadership of both parties and has come to a consensus on specific days each party can hold a health walk.
ASP Yaw Nketiah Yeboah, the Eastern Regional Police Public Relations Officer, explained that the decision was reached after the meeting with the political parties saying, “we have agreed with the parties to have a rotational health walk, the NPP will have their walk coming Saturday and the NDC will embark on their walk on Sunday. The following week the NDC will go for the walk on Saturday and the NPP will follow on Sunday”
Although the police is yet to arrest anyone as has happened in many of such political violence, ASP Nketiah called for calm to prevail, and called on residents to trust the police to bring the culprits to book.
He said, “investigations are ongoing and we will make sure those who were involved are put behind bars. We want the leaders of the walk to help in our investigations by pointing the culprits out because they were with them and they know them”
ASP Yaw Nketiah Yeboah also cautioned the residents to be of good behaviour and put a stop to the clashes or the police will either cancel the health walks or impose a curfew on them if the clashes continue.
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(Via: CitiFM Online Ghana)
