Rawlings and Obed factions Clash in tamale

Tamale,---- Several people have been wounded in a clash between two rival factions of the main opposition NDC in Tamale on Sunday over the organisation of regional delegates? congress to elect new officers.

A supporter of one of the factions perceived to be loyal to the former president Jerry Rawlings filed an injunction at a Tamale High court last Friday restraining the national executive of the party from organizing the regional congress.

The other faction, which is said to be loyal to the national chairman of the party Dr Obed Asamoah said the injunction was not properly filed and went ahead to organize the congress.

The Obed faction is led by Alhaji Sumani Zakari whilst that of Rawlings has the former minister of Food and Agriculture, Ibrahim Adam as its leader.

The conference venue was shifted from the teacher?s hall to a makeshift shelter at the party head office because the management of the teacher?s hall anticipated the clash and refused to give them their hall for the congress.

A few supporters of the Rawlings faction who went to the congress venue were attacked and beaten. They were accused of trying to sabotage the congress. Some of them were sent to the hospital and the others fled.

Gunshots were also fired. Police reinforcement was dispatched to the place to maintain order. And when it was rumoured that supporters of the Rawlings faction had mobilise to attack the delegates at the congress, the rival faction also mobilised and armed with machetes, knives, sticks and other offensive weapons, took positions outside the congress grounds to prevent them from coming attacking the delegates.

At the time of filing the story the Rawlings faction were gathered at the centre of town with some of them holding offensive weapons. This latest development has further deepened the crisis with the NDC.

NDC members of parliament perceived to be loyal to Rawlings stayed away from the congress and those loyal to Obed Asamoah were at the congress grounds.

Guns were distributed at the congress grounds in the full view of the police.