Akwatiahene urges NDC and NPP to ensure peace at Akwatia

Akwatia, Aug. 15, GNA - The Akwatiahene, Osabarima Kofi Boateng the third, on Saturday said he would hold the executives of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) personally responsible, should there be any disturbances at Akwatia before, during and after the August 18 re-run polls.

He therefore asked them to hold their supporters in check and ensure that the re-run of the Parliamentary polls in the six polling stations at Akwatia constituency is held in a peaceful atmosphere, devoid of any violence.

Addressing the executive of the two political parties at his palace at Akwatia, Osabarima Boateng warned them against bringing thugs into the town to disrupt the polls or to intimidate political opponents. He also warned that the security agencies would ensure the safety of the people and the elections and would deal drastically with any miscreant.

The Akwatiahene said anyone who would misbehave would be arrested and prosecuted and those inviting trouble makers to the town would be expelled from Akwatia.

Nana Akwatiahene advised the two parties to do away with politics of insults, vilification, hatred and violence. He noted that the name of Akwatia had in recent times been heavily dented and that no one would be allowed to sink the image of Akwatia further "into shame and disrepute".

Osabarima Boateng regretted that of the country's 230 constituencies it was only Akwatia that did not have a Member of Parliament (MP) as a result of the unfortunate incident of last year's December 7th in which voting in six polling stations were disrupted and ballot boxes and voting materials vandalized. He blamed the media for being partially responsible for the "wild stories" flying about on the situation at Akwatia and asked them to be circumspect in their reportage on events in the area. "It cannot be true that Akwatia is sitting on a keg of gun powder about to explode", he said. Nana Akwatiahene asked that peace should be given the chance to reign supreme in his hitherto peaceful town.