ASP Godwin Ahianyo, Ashanti Regional Police PRO
Four persons alleged to be members of pro-NDC vigilante group "The Hawks" have been declared wanted by the Ashanti Regional Police Command in connection with the shooting incident that happened at the regional office of the NDC on Monday, 18 February 2019.
The incident claimed one life while one person is in critical condition at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital.
The suspects according to the police are Warrior, Damous, Migyima and Abu Tariban.
Regional police PRO, ASP Godwin Ahianyo told the media at a press briefing that the incident happened when gun-toting men on motorbikes alleged to be members of The Hawks evaded the NDC premises and fired several gunshots indiscriminately.
ASP Ahianyo said the police are pursuing the suspects for their arrest.
He noted that the crime scene has been cordoned off to enable the police conduct investigations.
Background
A gunman identified by eyewitnesses as a member of vigilante group The Hawks, which is affiliated to the NDC, shot at fellow party members during a regional executive meeting in Kumasi.
The shooter, according to the eyewitnesses, shot the first victim thrice – first in the thigh, then in the belly and on the back as he fell to the ground.
Reports reaching ClassFMonline.com indicate that members of The Hawks pitched camp on one side of the meeting while members of the NDC taskforce also pitched camp on the opposite side.
One of the members of The Hawks began throwing tantrums that something was going to happen, according to the eyewitnesses, and the victim from the task force approached him and said nothing was going to happen.
It resulted in heated verbal exchanges and the member of The Hawks pulled a gun and shot the victim from the NDC task force, the eyewitnesses said.
The victim was rushed to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital where he died.
Another victim shot by the same gunman has sustained injuries but still alive and in critical condition.
The suspect is currently on the run.
Meanwhile, the party has issued a statement claiming gunmen on a motorbike drove by and fired at its supporters and sped off.
The statement, signed by the party’s regional secretary Kwame Zu, said: “Some men on motorbike wielding guns attacked a gathering outside, shot indiscriminately and sped off”.
Read the NDC’s full statement below:
NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS – ASHANTI REGIONAL SECRETARIAT
OFFICIAL STATEMENT ON INCIDENT AT THE ASHANTI REGIONAL OFFICE ON MONDAY FEBRUARY 18, 2019
The Ashanti Regional Secretariat of the National Democratic Congress regrets to report that an unfortunate incident occurred at the party’s regional office today, Monday 18th February 2019.
The regrettable incident occurred while a meeting between the National Chairman, The General Secretary, a Deputy General Secretary and the Regional Executive Committee were ongoing. Some men on Motorbike wielding guns attacked a gathering outside, shot indiscriminately and sped off.
We regret to announce that one of the two men who were shot has passed on and the other is in a critical condition at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH). The National Chairman, General Secretary and the Regional Executive Committee have visited him at the hospital.
We request the police to carry out a thorough investigation into the matter and bring the perpetrators to book.
Signed,
Kwame Zu (Regional Secretary)
18th February 2019
