A free-for-all fight disrupted the inauguration of the newly-created Asokore-Mampong Municipal Assembly in the Ashanti Region.
The function was proceeding peacefully until some aggrieved people believed to come from Kentikrono, Duase, Kenyase, Sepe-Dote, Weweso and Aprade electoral areas which were not included in the new Municipality, stormed the event midway through the programme and brought proceedings to a temporary halt as a result of the fight.
For close to about 30 minutes, the forecourt of the Asokore-Mampong chief’s palace which was the venue for the function became an unbearable scene as some aggrieved assembly members and their supporters who opposed the manner in which the new Municipality was created hijacked the programme calling for their grievances to be addressed.
This behaviour incurred the displeasure of some of the invited guests and in the process they clashed with the aggrieved assembly members and the supporters as insults and blows were exchanged, throwing the entire programme into confusion.
The few security men on duty had a hectic time in bringing the situation under control and had to call for reinforcement from the Police Buffalo Unit; in the process, four people whose names were not readily available were arrested and detained at the Asawasi District Police Station.
The Ghana News Agency (GNA) gathered that for about two weeks, tension had been mounting in the Municipality as the aggrieved members and their supporters as well as some residents threatened to disrupt the programme if the said electoral areas were not included in the newly-created Municipality.
Mr. Ahmed Nurideen, Assemblyman for Sepe-Dote and Spokesperson for the aggrieved members, said their electoral areas were intentionally not included in the newly-created Municipality for political reasons.
“We suspect that these areas have been left out in order to give one party an advantage over the other in the 2012 Presidential and Parliamentary elections”, he told the GNA.
The members, he said, would fight to the “very last end until their grievances were addressed.”
When the situation was finally brought under control, the 10 elected members and five government appointees representing the people were inaugurated.
Mr. Paul Victor Obeng, Chairman of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) who represented the President called for peace amongst the people.
He charged the members to be development-oriented and strive to initiate projects for the well-being of the people.
Mr. Obeng assured the people of government’s resolve to resource the new Municipality with the requisite logistics to enhance their activities and also deepen the decentralization concept.
Nana Boakye Ansah Debrah, Chief of Asokore-Mampong, expressed concern about the nasty incident and appealed to the people to always use the right channel to address their grievances.
He hoped the creation of the new Municipality would help advance development in the area.
Mr. Anokye Frimpong, Assemlyman for Sepe-Timpom, who went unopposed, was elected as the Presiding Member for the Municipal Assembly after he polled 14 out of the 15 total ballots cast.**
