NDC youth on rampage: MP, former DCE at centre of storm
Some irate youth of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Atebubu-Amantin District in the Brong Ahafo Region last Tuesday went on the rampage and ended up vandalising the constituency office of the party.
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The action of the youth, who are supporters of the immediate past District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Sampson Owusu-Boateng, was believed to have been due to the removal of the DCE from office, a development which they deemed as unfair.
The riot was volatile, to the extent that the Brong Ahafo Regional Police Command had to send reinforcement from Techiman, Kintampo and Nkoranza to calm down the situation.
Briefing
The Brong Ahafo Regional Police Public Relations Officer, Assistant Superintendent of Police Mr Christopher Tawiah, told the Daily Graphic that although the DCE had been removed from office, he continued to use state facilities such as his official vehicle.
He explained that when the police made the attempt to retrieve the vehicle from the DCE, his supporters, who had massed up in front of the constituency office, deflated the tyres of the car, but the police managed to take it to their office for safe keeping.
The youth, who were said to have become uncontrollable at that point, started destroying property in the office and ended up setting it ablaze.
According to Mr Tawiah, although officials of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) were called in to save the situation, the NDC youth prevented them from doing so until the entire building was razed down.
Not satisfied with their action, the youth, he said, went to town and torched a house belonging to an NDC activist whom they perceived to be one of the NDC supporters who backed Mr Owusu-Boateng’s removal from office.
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Arrest
Mr Tawiah said Addison Ayamba, identified as the architect of the mayhem, had been arrested, while efforts were being made to arrest others who took part in the disturbances.
According to him, Ayamba and others to be arrested would be put before court for causing damage, rioting and public disturbance.
Tension
Tension had been brewing between supporters of Mr Owusu-Boateng and those of the sitting Member of Parliament (MP), Mr Sanja Nanja, after Mr Owusu-Boateng was disqualified from contesting the NDC primary in the constituency.
Since then, there have been a number of skirmishes between the two factions and that seemed to have escalated when the President nominated another person for consideration by the district assembly as the new DCE.
Reports monitored from some FM stations in Sunyani indicated that Mr Owusu-Boateng’s driver, who sustained some minor injuries during the disturbances, was receiving treatment at a hospital at Atebubu.
Writer’s email: emmanuel.gyamerah@graphic.com.gh