The New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary primary in the Ashanti Region’s Manhyia North Constituency,was on Saturday marred by altercations over the eligibility of some voters.
Citi FM’s Lauretta Timah who was on the ground, reported that warning shots had to be fired by Police to prevent some people from whisking the ballot boxes away.
Three persons have so far been arrested in connection with the incident.
Superintendent James Annor, who confirmed the incident to Citi News, stated that some members of party had issues with the eligibility of some of the delegates.
“The only problem we have had so far has been with the process. Some of the members of the party sometimes have problems with those who are supposed to vote …”
Supt. Annor also noted that, the warning shot was fired because there were indications that some people wanted to carry away some ballot boxes.
“According to my Chief inspector, who released the shot, there was the possibility that the ballot boxes will be taken away so he had to release the shot.”
“One of them was disrupting the process… When the delegates’ names are mentioned then he will go and stop them, saying they are not supposed to vote. I prompted him to clear off, he continued and I had to take him in order to makes sure the process went on peacefully,” Supt. Annor explained.
Previous attempts to elect both constituency executives and a parliamentary candidate were stalled because of internal wrangling.
Some parliamentary aspirants were accusing the constituency executives of intentionally bloating the register.
The three aspirants who vied for the slot were the incumbent Member of Parliament for the constituency; Collins Owusu Amankwah, Richard Osei Bamfo and Kwesi Konadu.
But at the end of voting, Collins Amankwah emerged winner, polling 185 votes as against his closest contender, Kwasi Konadu, who garnered 171 votes while Nana Osei Bamfoe had 129 votes.
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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana