NPP-NDC clash to be probed

War-Wearly National Democratic Congress (NDC) cadres now in exile at Akuse after they had been smoked out of Asutsuare by their New Patriotic Party (NPP) counterparts in reprisal skirmishes can now go to bed in peace without any fear of intimidation and victimisation from anybody, according to Sheikh I.C. Quaye, Greater Accra Regional Minister.

Vulnerable elements, both within the NPP and NDC, who were victims of various acts of brutalities in the Shai Hills blood and thunder politics that rocked the area during the 1996 and 2000 presidential and parliamentary elections can now also go about their normal duties without fear of further attacks since the government has the security situation 'well under control'.

But the more refreshing news is that government intends to turn Asutguare, which has become a virtual ghost town, into one of a model industrial complex, providing gainful employment to the teeming youth in the town, regardless of what party colours they find themselves in, Chronicle was told.

In the next few weeks, the government will be putting together a credible and independent body that would be acceptable to all the factions engaged in the political conflict in the Shai Hills to investigate the causes of the clashes.

That body will also advise government to enable it put in place the proper mechanism for ensuring a truly enduring reconciliation package for the people in Akuse and Asutsuare, Hon. Quaye told the Chronicle on Monday evening in an exclusive interview held in his official residence in Accra.

The regional minister added that ensuring peace in the two trouble zone, especially Asutsuare and Akuse, and rehabilitating the Asutsuare Sugar Factory are issues that must be looked at holistically, intimating that the NPP administration intends to kill two birds with one stone.

"We have evidence that the situation in Asutsuare has improved considerably. We share the concerns of the traditional authorities, the religious bodies and opinion leaders in the area and we would do everything in our power to make Asutsuare and its environs a peaceful and prosperous area."

The minister also assured the paper that the body to be set up would be more of a reconciliatory than an inquisitorial one. In the mean time, he would implore all people in exile to return home and go about their normal duties, since the government is not interested in looking for scapegoats.

Sounding a warning to future troublemakers and anarchists, the minister made a passionate appeal to all factions in the conflict to forgive one another and forget the past in the interest of national unity and progress.

The number of cadres now holed up in Asutsuare is said to be 200, by the account of Hon. Mike Gizo, Member of Parliament (MP) for Shai-Osudoku constituency, and 100, by the account of two key exiles Chronicle interviewed.

New Patriotic Party sources, however, put the number at 50, arguing that elements within the NDC are trying to make political capital out of the situation by inflating the number of exiles in Akuse and surrounding communities.

The reprisal attacks, allegedly launched by NPP activists against their NDC counterparts on the eve of the Kufuor presidential victory led to scores of people from Asutsuare fleeing into exile after bloody clashes that left both sides suffering heavy casualties.