Blows at NPP meeting

A political turmoil of shameful ramifications unfolded on Monday night at a meeting of the members of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) at the Ablekuma South Constituency of the party in the Greater Accra region.

According to The Chronicle newspaper, the pandemonium which rocked the meeting could best be described as scoring political violence as party members ran riot with machetes, cutlasses and other weapons against each other.

The members who were on rampage destroyed some properties belonging to the party, including tables, florescent lights and above all injured party members.

At the end of the melee three constituency executives; the Chairman Mr. William Akakpo who received a slap on his face, Alhaji Abu Seidu, Second Vice Chairman who was once Special Aide to the Member of Parliament (MP) Ms Theresa Tagoe and Nana Yeboah the Treasurer were all bundled to the Korle Bu Police Station following a complaint the MP made to the police.

Three of the party members were injured and were given medical forms by the police for treatment which they received at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.

Mr. Oromasis Abbey who contested the recent district assembly elec¬tions but lost to the younger brother of the Odododiodoo MP, was seen by this reporter at the Accident Centre at about 7.45pm being treated for a swollen mouth, while a known party member, popularly known as Fela was also given a medical form after he was severely beaten by macho men that stormed the meeting.

The name of a third victim was not readily available to the Chronicle.

The dastardly scene, which nearly turned into a free-for-all fight in the constituency, saw people ran for their dear lives until the police arrived on the scene.

Incidentally it was the MP, who was being accused of having a hand in the melee by allegedly inciting disgruntled party members to wage war against the incumbent constituency executives, who invited the police to contain what would have been a bloodier conflict, according to the Chronicle.

The Regional Chairman, Mr. Sammy Crabbe, had his open share of insinuations and hecklings when he stormed the police station at about 8.20pm to bail the party executives. Immediately he entered, the MP, in the company of her group did not spare him,they booed and jeered at the regional boss, calling him unprintable names.

The troubles started as early as 6pm. when the disgruntled group that had passed a vote of no confi¬dence in the constituency executives but which resolution was quashed by the regional executives, took over the general meeting from the Chairman and his team to address party members about their grievances.

The Chronicle sighted at the high table Oromasis Abbey and Fela.

The other faction headed by Alhaji Abu Seidu, the Second Vice Chairman of the party, led a group of macho men carrying machetes, cutlasses, sticks and other offensive weapons to attack the group that had hijacked the meeting.

They quickly disrupted the meeting and dismantled everything, thus sparking off the confusion.

Alhaji Ahmed Yusif, the Regional Youth organizer, who was detailed to address the party members to hold back their fire until the regional executives looked at the concerns raised by the disgruntled party members, looked on perplexed. He indicated his neutrality in the matter and stated he would go and report the matter to his bosses.

"I don't want to say anything for now. I am going to the police station to see what is happening and I will let my executives know," he told party members who wanted to know what line of action was to be taken. That was about 7:50pm.

Also present to witness the stormy atmosphere besides the regional executives was Mr. John Boadu, National Youth Organizer of the NPP.

At the police station, the MP and her group did not spare Mr. Crabbe unprintable words. She voiced out that the matter should go to court for the rule of law to prevail, indicating that if that happened the arrested executives would provide the macho men who inflicted wounds on them.

The fuming regional boss, who stat¬ed that by virtue of powers conferred on him by the constitution of the party, the MP was under him, expressed dissatisfaction with the order for the arrest and detention of the party executives by the MP.

The Regional Chairman demanded the release of his boys but the MP, who sat at the entrance of the police station, shouting on top of her voice and lashing out at regional executives, demanded prosecution of the party members and asked the police to give her the day of the prosecu¬tion.

Not even the pleas of Mad. Vivian Garshon that the matter should be resolved amicably could get the MP to change her mind.

Tempers flared up further when Crabbe was told that the people were arrested based on a report by the MP after an attempt with the police to arrest Mr. Ben Brown, the Regional Secretary had failed because he was not at home.

The Regional Chairman, who insisted that he was the regional boss and that he was in to ensure that the party members were released from police custody for the matter to be resolved amicably because, as he put it, the matter was a 'domestic problem,' was whisked away by some party members to avoid further chaos since the MP-led group would not stop casting insinuations at him. Peeved and angry, he drove his car away from the police station at about 8.32pm, saying he was going to see the 'highest authority' to ensure that the party executives were released. He came back at about 12.1Oam and bailed the party executives.

Prior to the release of the people, the MP led group danced and jubilated when the police station officer told them that upon orders of the Deputy Regional Commander of police, the party members were to be detained until the next day.

The Korle-Bu Police station was crowded on Monday evening with party faithful.

Mr. William Akakpo, the Constituency Chairman who decried the activities of the MP said, he remains the Chairman and prevailed upon party members to continue lo rally behind him. He however denied bringing the armed group of people to attack his detractors.