Brong-Ahafo police warn party activists

Sunyani, Aug. 8, GNA - The Brong-Ahafo Regional police command has warned that the police would not tolerate political party activists whose acts might cause public confusion during the registration exercise.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Charles Oteng, the Regional Police Commander, appealed to supporters of political parties to channel their grievances through the appropriate quarters for redress to ensure violent-free election in December.

Mr Oteng told the GNA in an interview that the Regional Command had deployed four vehicles with 35 personnel to beef up security in Techiman to ensure peace and order at the various registration centres.

The deployment of the extra police personnel followed confusion at one of the centres at Aworowa, near Techiman, between some supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

The police are also monitoring events at Sankore in Asunafo South where a similar incident occurred and have beefed up personnel in the area.

Mr Oteng said a group of NDC supporters led by one Unas Owusu, a popular businessman in Techiman, stormed the Aworowa registration centre and alleged that NPP members had ferried some people from another constituency to register at the centre.

The NDC supporters subjected two potential voters believed to be supporters of NPP to severe beating under the pretext that they were not eligible to register at the centre.

"Some supporters of the NPP in the municipality also massed up to confront the NDC activists but the timely intervention of the police nibbed the confrontation in the bud and restored peace and order", he said.

Mr Oteng said the police arrested Unas Owusu "but the angry NDC supporters armed with offensive instruments marched to the police station to demand his release." Tanko Salifu, a 29-year-old trader who was arrested together with Unas Owusu in the assault case, was on Wednesday put before a circuit court in Sunyani charged with two counts of conspiracy and assault. He pleaded not guilty and was granted bail to re-appear on August 12. Owusu and Muniru Fuseini, another accomplice who is on the run, were not in court but were ordered to appear before the court on the same date. Owusu is reported to be receiving treatment at the Techiman Holy Family Hospital in Techiman after he had collapsed during police interrogation. 08 Aug 08

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