NPP youth in C/R vandalise party office

Some angry youth of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Central Region have allegedly vandalised the regional office of the party in protest against the suspension of the Regional 1st Vice Chairman of the party, Mr Horace Ekow Ewusi.

The youth allegedly vandalised the office and a vehicle parked in front of the office last Tuesday.

The Regional Police spokesperson, Deputy Superintendent of Police ( DSP) Irene Serwaa Oppong, told the media that “we are pursuing the perpetrators of the crime at the NPP regional office.”

She said the leadership of the youth, which held a press conference in support of Mr Ewusi, were currently helping the police in their investigations.

At a press conference in Cape Coast last Wednesday, the Central Regional Minister, Mr Kwamena Duncan, bemoaned the attitude of the youth and called on the police to investigate the crime and bring the perpetrators to book.

He said the Regional Executive Committee’s adoption of the Regional Disciplinary Committee's recommendation to suspend the Regional 1st Vice Chairman indefinitely was procedural and constitutional.

No history of violence

He stressed that the NPP in the region had never been violent and described the action of the youth as a new development which must not be tolerated in the party.

He said all the past and present executives of the party held themselves well and in accordance with the tenets and laws of the NPP, adding that those whose conduct and attitude worked at variance with the constitution of the party had no place in it.

“The party is firm on the processes of electing its party executive. We are solidly behind the executive committee’s decision to suspend Mr Ewusi,” he said.

The Regional Secretary, Mr Richard Tekyi-Mensah, who addressed journalists after taking them round the crime scene, said the party hierarchy had not erred in suspending the 1st Vice Chairman.

“Whoever is not satisfied with the decision should go through the party’s laid-down procedure of seeking redress instead of resorting to violence and vandalising party properties at the regional party office,” he said.

He said the NPP had never witnessed that kind of violence in the region and urged party faithful and members to adhere to party rules and decisions as no indiscipline on the part of any party officer or member in the region would be countenanced.

Background

Last Tuesday scores of supporters of Mr Ewusi demonstrated against his suspension by the Regional Executive Committee.

A group calling itself concerned supporters of the NPP briefly blocked the main Cape Coast-Takoradi highway in their bid to register their protest against the decision, thereby bringing vehicular traffic to a halt.