Soldiers foil bloody clash in Bolga

But for the timely intervention by soldiers on peace-keeping duties in Bolgatanga, the municipality would have witnessed a fierce clash by two youth groups, both claiming to be aligned to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Upper East Region.

Although the military personnel ‘misbehaved’ by beating passers-by and pushing people’s belongings into gutters, their intervention prevented a clash that could have led to many youths sustaining injuries as a result of a counter demonstration. The demonstration was against a group calling itself “Coalition of NPP Concerned Groups” that had earlier given a hint of marching through some streets of the Bolgatanga Municipality to thank the president for removing Rockson Ayine Bukari from office as regional minister.

Members of the group converged in front of an office and commenced the procession from there. At the same time, another group that claimed to be supporters of the outgoing Upper East Regional Minister had also gathered and were ready to ‘crush’ the “anti-Bukari” youth of the NPP.

Prior to the gathering, the “anti-Bukari” youth had called journalists to be ready for a press statement. However, when the plan changed and they wanted to get journalists, only a few could be found because many avoided the military personnel who stormed the venue, beating every living thing around; they did not spare even inanimate things.

When the soldiers left for their base, the NPP youth met some journalists and issued their press statement.

The youth group thanked President Akufo-Addo for listening to their plea and changing the regional minister.

“We are highly elated for such an action from His Excellency. The hardest truth must be told without fear. His removal was long overdue considering the hundreds of petitions fired from the Upper East Region to the Jubilee House for his removal. However, it’s better late than never. The enthusiasm and passion of the grassroots for the party that was gradually quenching in the region has been reignited. Politics is a serious business,” the group stated.

According to them, some appointees in the Upper East Region have suddenly forgotten that the power of the government, which they are benefitting from, came from the ordinary people, saying “… any appointee who thinks political appointment is a ‘family business’ or ‘cocoa farm’, should rethink. We expect humility; we expect open leadership to make the party attractive to all Ghanaians, including our opponents.”

The youth who claimed to be so loyal to the NPP, said if the president had not listened to the plea of the many party members in the region, his silence would have taken the NPP back to the days when it had just a handful of members and supporters.

“ ...You have demonstrated that you are a leader with good-listening ears; we hope your action will send a strong signal to those appointees who have suddenly become so pompous and oblivious to the toil and sweat of the grassroots. The future of NPP in the region is now very bright. We formally congratulate H.E Tangoba Abayage Paulina on her appointment as the Upper East Regional Minister designate,” the youth group stated.

Rockson Bukari has been reassigned to the office of the president, joining the long list of regional ministers who left office in less than two years.