The confusion in the primary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Ningo-Prampram Constituency of the Greater Accra Region deepened on Sunday November 22, when police officers protecting the polls ‘clashed’ with some soldiers who were dispatched to the area by Greater Accra constituency executives of the NDC.
According to the police, the soldiers had no business being present at Ahwiam, the hometown of Sam George, the only aspirant who’s keenly contesting against the incumbent MP, E.T. Mensah.
Ahwiam also happens to be the stronghold of Mr. Sam George.
[contextly_sidebar id=”npnaHzNuF7WXAysszR4ssQea6Ah9RmmU”]The confusion on Sunday started few minutes after voting ended around 5:00pm on Sunday. Ningo-Prampram had its election postponed to Sunday following disagreement that erupted on Saturday over the voters’ register.
Tema Regional Police Commander, (DCOP) Beatrice Zaakpa Vib-Sanziri, who spoke to Citi News’ Elvis Washington, criticized the soldiers for their presence in the area without recourse to the police which is solely in charge of protecting the process.
According to her, the soldiers, numbering about 50, had not sought the permission of the military to assist them and so they had no business being there.
She said the voting process had been peaceful until the arrival of the armed soldiers whose presence was rather intimidating the voters.
The Tema Police Commander said “The captain was so disrespectful to me and I am sure if I was a soldier he won’t disrespect me in that manner. The behaviour they put up here simply shows that they have no respect for us. The crowd here is not violent so we don’t need the military here. And if anything at all and they claim they are here to help us, we are the ones who should determine what kind of help they will offer us. They even went ahead to block roads so I called my boss to ask whoever asked them to come here to ask them to withdraw. The security of this election is my responsibility and they did not show respect to me as the Regional Police Commander.” She lamented
Greater Accra Regional Organizer of the NDC, Anthony Nukpenu, also wearing a military jacket, justified the presence of the soldiers in an interview with Citi News’ Elvis Washington, claiming that tensions were rising in the area.
“When the Deputy Regional Minister was coming with the Regional Chairman, there was information that they car they were using was stocked with ballot boxes, so they were stopped on the road by some young men so they made a call to the police but there was no response so they called in some soldiers who came to rescue them and escorted them here. On their way they met Sam George who also asked to know what warrant the military had to be there and that was what created the uproar”.
Greater Accra Regional Chairman Ade Coker also told Elvis Washington that they had to bring the solders to the area because they had information that Sam George had intentions to rig the elections in the area.
Deputy Greater Accra Regional Minister, Nii Djamgba Vanderpuije, also justified the presence of the military personnel and suggested that there was nothing wrong if the police was not informed about the presence of the soldiers.
Some residents of Ahwiam hooted at the executives and the military personnel who were leaving the scene accusing them of intimidating voters in an attempt to favour the incumbent MP, E.T. Mensah.
Counting is underway with the winner of the polls expected to be announced soon.
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By: Ebenezer Afanyi Dadzie/citifmonline.com/Ghana