Ahafo Ano North NPP Constituency Executives Condemn Violence And Disturbances During Polling Station Elections At Akwasiase
The Ahafo Ano North Constituency Executives of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) wish to express our strongest condemnation of the barbaric, violent, and disgraceful incidents that occurred at Akwasiase and other electoral centers during the ongoing polling station elections within the constituency.
The constituency executives have monitored the electoral process from the beginning. We can confidently state that the polling station elections have generally been peaceful, transparent, and far better organized compared to previous years. Party executives, electoral officers, Electoral Area coordinators, and dedicated party members worked tirelessly and sacrificed resources to ensure a successful and credible exercise across the constituency.
It is therefore deeply unfortunate and disturbing that certain individuals chose to undermine the peace and unity of the party through acts of violence, intimidation, and hooliganism.
What is even more shocking is that Mr. Fosu Frimpong, who from the beginning of the polling station election process to this point has not contributed anything in support of the organization of the elections, somehow found resources to hire macho men and vehicles to roam throughout the constituency creating chaos and tension among party members.
The unfortunate stabbing of three persons at Akwasiase was the climax of these disturbances. The incident reportedly occurred at the end of the polls while party members and supporters were peacefully jubilating after a successful exercise. We ask: what did these innocent individuals do to deserve such cruel and animalistic treatment?
The thugs who perpetrated the violent acts at Akwasiase were brought into the constituency by Mr. Fosu Frimpong and his team. Their group of macho men, reportedly led by Elvis Prince Biney, constituency Assistant Secretary, Mr. James Koduah, former Constituency Secretary, Emmanuel Darko (Sabato), constituency Deputy Youth Organizer, Francis Avoka, Electoral Area Coordinator (Gyamerakrom), Emmanuel Bempong aka Nautica, and Nicholas Asamoah Nikel aka Blings moved across the constituency in hired vehicles causing fear, confusion, intimidation, and disturbances at various electoral centers.
DONATED BY: HON. ERIC NANA AGYEMANG PREMPEH (PATRON)
NPP: DEVELOPMENT IN FREEDOM
The Akwasiase incident was not the first act of violence associated with this same group. On Sunday, another disturbing incident occurred at Ward 3 where ballot materials were destroyed during confusion allegedly caused by the same individuals. The situation became so tense and dangerous that the Ghana Police Service had to intervene and fire warning shots to restore order and prevent further escalation.
These repeated acts of violence and intimidation are alien to the democratic culture and traditions of the New Patriotic Party in Ahafo Ano North. Never in the history of the constituency have party supporters engaged in such disgraceful and shameful conduct during internal elections.
The actions of these individuals have embarrassed the party, tarnished its image, and brought the New Patriotic Party into serious disrepute before the general public.
The constituency executives therefore call on the Ashanti Regional and National leadership of the NPP to immediately investigate these incidents and take decisive disciplinary action against all persons responsible for bringing macho men into the constituency to disrupt the peaceful electoral process.
We also urge the Ghana Police Service to conduct a thorough investigation into both the Akwasiase stabbing incident and the destruction of ballot materials at Ward 3, and ensure that all perpetrators are arrested and prosecuted according to the laws of Ghana.
The New Patriotic Party is a democratic political party built on the principles of rule of law, peace, unity, discipline, and respect for democratic processes. Violence, intimidation, hooliganism, and acts of lawlessness must never be tolerated within our party structures.
The persons that were attacked and injured are supporters of Nana Agyemang Prempeh, the Member of Parliament of this constituency. He took them to the hospital yesterday and they have received the necessary treatment, been discharged, and are currently at his residence. Nana Agyemang Prempeh paid for the polling station executives’ nomination and admonished that no interested person should be deprived of nomination forms.
We therefore appeal to all party members, supporters, and stakeholders to remain calm, law-abiding, and committed to preserving the unity and integrity of the party as we continue to work together towards victory in future elections.
SIGNED:
AHAFO ANO NORTH CONSTITUENCY EXECUTIVES
NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY (NPP)