Supporters of NDC, NPP clash in Odododiodoo
Three persons sustained various degrees of injury following a clash between supporters of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidates in the Odododiodoo Constituency after the two parties had held separate rallies in the area last Tuesday.
Advertisement
Although the cause of the clash is unclear, some residents of the area claim they heard gunshots, while others said they saw some people fleeing for their lives.
While the three injured persons were later taken to the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KATH) for treatment, personnel from the James Town Police Station later visited the scene and arrested two persons.
Police confirmation
When contacted, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Accra Regional Police Command, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Afia Tenge, said the police received information about 8:30 p.m. last Tuesday about a shooting incident at James Town Gbese in the Odododiodoo Constituency.
She said when the police got to the scene, the persons alleged to have been involved in the shooting had bolted, but they managed to arrest two persons.
The two, identified as Reindorf Emmanuel, 40, and Jacob Annan, 22, are now assisting the police in their investigations.
According to Mrs Tenge, the police could not relate the shooting to the rallies by the two political parties, but investigations were ongoing to establish the cause of the clash.
She said one of the injured persons was later discharged, while two others who were in critical condition were still on admission.
Counter-accusations
In separate interviews, the incumbent Member of Parliament (MP), Nii Lante Vanderpuye, alleged that the NPP’s Nii Lante Bannerman masterminded the attacks on supporters of the NDC at the end of a rally at James Town, but Mr Bannerman denied orchestrating the attacks.
Mr Bannerman rather accused Mr Vanderpuye of physically assaulting him the morning after the clash.
According to him, Mr Vanderpuye dealt him two punches on his jaw without any provocation.
This is not the first time supporters of the two opposition parties in Odododiodio have been involved in such violence during political campaign periods.