Violence mars NPP Navrongo Congress

There was a near disaster last Saturday at the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Navrongo Central Constituency delegates’ congress when fighting erupted between supporters of Otito Achuliwor, junior brother of the late John Sitim Achuliwor, the former MP and the current MP Joseph Kofi Adda.

Information gathered by The Chronicle late last Friday said the incident occurred when supporters of Mr. Adda allegedly attacked Monday Achuliwor, another junior brother of the late John Achiluwor for recording the speech delivered by Adda.

The Chronicle learnt that Mr. Adda in a speech had made some negative comments against Otito Achiluwor who had shown interest in challenging the MP at the party’s primaries for the parliamentary slot.

The violence broke moments after the congress ended when the MP’s supporters approached Monday to demand his reason for recording the proceedings at the congress and to ask him to surrender the audiotape. In the process they allegedly pounced on him and beat him up.

The sources further said that Monday who had sustained various degrees of injury from the attack managed to call his senior brother Otito Achuliwor who was then at Bolgatanga.

But according to the sources when Otito arrived at the scene with his supporters they were also attacked and beaten.

In an interview with The Chronicle on Thursday, Otito, who denied the existence of bad blood between himself and the MP, said on his way to from Bolgatanga, he met the MP who was then leaving the congress venue.

He alleged that the MP upon seeing him made a call on his cell phone to his (MP) supporters to inform them about his arrival.

He said he went to have a chat with the presiding member of the district assembly but Monday Achuliwor came and asked for audience with the presiding member.

According to Otito, whilst his brother was engaged with the presiding member one of the attackers came and slapped him (Monday) followed by a further attack on his followers by another group.

He said, he was advised to prevent his boys from retaliating and he went to the Navrongo police station where he lodged a complaint.

The district police commander confirmed that a complaint on the incident had been made but refused to comment on the issue.

The Chronicle made attempts to speak to Mr. Adda last Thursday but his mobile phone was off.