Confusion, chaos, accusations and counter-accusations have bedevilled the ongoing branch elections of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).
This has created anarchy across constituencies where the branch elections have commenced.
In the Upper West, the Regional Chairman of NDC, Abdul Nashir Bunas is said to have flouted the party’s guidelines and hoarded nomination forms in constituencies that he wants his favourite constituency aspirants to win.
Chairman Bunas who is seeking re-election as Regional Chairman has caused confusion in three constituencies in the region.
He is alleged to be backing factions in Sisala East, Lambussie – Karni and Daffiama-Bussie-Issa constituencies.
These actions of the regional Chairman have created tension and misunderstandings in Sisala East leading to the throwing of blows among factions that want to contest upcoming constituency elections slated for September this year.
In the Bono East, the head of Far-han Mu-az, NDC Branch Organizer for Baptist JHS, Hausaline Electoral Area -in Techiman South sustained machete wounds when some rampaging boys believed to be aligned to the Bono East Regional Chairman, Unas Owusu attacked him.
According to sources, there was a verbal communication from NDC national headquarters in Accra to put branch elections on hold in Techiman South, but the Regional Chairman, Unas Owusu, allegedly did the contrary by announcing that the election would come off. That culminated in a controversy that led to injuries and misunderstanding.
Also, NDC supporters in Techiman South went to the regional party office at Techiman and vandalized some properties.
The party’s branch elections are billed to take place between now and early September 2022.
Per the guidelines approved by the party’s National Executive Committee, the NDC will hold ward elections followed by constituency elections in September 2022.
Barring any schedule change, the NDC will hold its Regional Conference in October 2022, and the entire activities for the re-organization of the party will be climaxed with a National Congress in November, this year.
Arrest
Five persons have been apprehended by the Ghana Police Service over the spilling of blood at the Bono East Region office of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).
The five NDC members arrested, Kojo Agyei, Illiasu Sulemana, Andrew Kemire, Fatau Abdallah and Alhaji Nuhu are believed to be part of the hoodlums who unleashed mayhem at the party’s regional headquarters on Thursday, July 28.
They were said to have unlawfully caused harm to party members and “damaged” properties at the office.
Police in a statement issued on Sunday, July 31 said “During the attacks, one person sustained multiple knife wounds and is currently on admission at the Techiman Government Hospital.
“The sliding windows of the party office and a vehicle which was parked at the office were vandalised.”
The police indicated that all the five suspects will be put before court on Monday, August 1 “to face justice”.
The statement signed by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Bosie Dankwa Amponsa, Public Affairs Unit of the Bono East Regional Police Command appealed to individuals and groups to resort to dialogue rather than violence “to resolve their differences since the police will not hesitate to apply the law”.
