The Ahafo Regional Communications Director of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr. Frimpong Andrews, expressed serious concerns at a press conference on Monday regarding the National Democratic Congress’s (NDC) recent statements and actions.
The briefing, which focused on the security and safety of Ahafo residents, highlighted escalating tensions between the two major political parties in the region.
Mr Andrews began by thanking the press for their prompt attendance despite the short notice. He explained that the conference addressed troubling rhetoric from the NDC’s regional leadership, particularly concerning law enforcement.
The conference was prompted by remarks by Mr Apraku Lartey, the NDC’s Ahafo Regional Communications Director, who reportedly declared that the NDC would no longer allow its youth members to face legal repercussions for unlawful actions.
Mr Andrews condemned this stance as an attempt to undermine law enforcement and provoke unrest during the critical election period.
“We find this very unfortunate and disturbing coming from individuals who should know better,” Mr Andrews stated. He voiced concerns that the NDC’s position could incite violence and destabilize the region as elections approach.
A substantial part of the briefing focused on an incident in Kwapong on September 7, 2024. According to the NPP, the clash began when NDC members, led by Akilibobo, disrupted an NPP rally by driving recklessly through the event grounds on motorbikes and in a Sprinter van.
The altercation reportedly escalated when stones were thrown, injuring an NPP supporter named Nana Yaw.
Mr Andrews also described how the violence intensified when Mr Gyau, a former NDC chairman, allegedly discharged a firearm, leading to further injuries and damage.
The NDC’s version of the events diverged significantly. Mr Yinka Benjamin, the NDC’s Asunafo South Constituency Secretary, suggested that the violence erupted when an NPP faction pursued a defector who had joined the NDC. Mr Lartey claimed that NDC youth were attacked by NPP supporters while returning from a fitness event.
“These conflicting statements from the NDC leadership confirm their attempts to mislead the public and justify violent behaviour,” Mr Andrews alleged, accusing the NDC of trying to shield their members from accountability.
Mr Andrews also provided historical context, citing past instances of violence involving the NDC, including an incident earlier this year in Kukuom where NDC members allegedly fired 90 rounds of gunfire during a voter registration exercise and a separate event where a misunderstanding at a meeting hosted by NDC stalwart Collins Dauda resulted in a fatal shooting.
In conclusion, Mr Andrews urged the police to act swiftly and impartially to uphold law and order.
He emphasized the NPP’s commitment to peace and stability and warned that if law enforcement fails to act, the NPP would consider lawful means, including citizens’ arrests, to maintain order.
The NPP strongly condemned the NDC’s stance on shielding their members from legal consequences and called on all stakeholders to work towards peace.
With elections approaching, the political climate in the Ahafo Region remains tense, and the NPP’s call for law and order is likely to resonate with concerned residents.
