Three persons are said to be undergoing surgery at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra after supporters of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidates of the Odododiodoo constituency were involved in a bloody clash on Tuesday night.
It is unclear why the attack was launched but Citi News gathered that the incident occurred after supporters of both candidates had ended their respective rallies in the constituency.
[contextly_sidebar id=”0o9tfnAdFWOTcl3XOxt9Nwyc66CxCpXQ”]The incumbent Member of Parliament, Nii Lante Vanderpuye, alleged that the NPP’s Nii Lante Bannerman masterminded the attacks on his supporters on Tuesday [November 8] night when his team had ended a rally at Jamestown in the constituency.
According to him, Mr Bannerman had organized some young men to attack his team members with guns, machetes and other weapons.
He told Bernard Avle on the Citi Breakfast Show on Wednesday that two of his team members were undergoing surgery at the Korle-Bu teaching hospital following the attacks.
“As I am talking to you now, I have two party boys at the Korle-Bu hospital surgical theatre undergoing surgery from gunshots from guys he [Bannerman] brought yesterday to come and kill our people, molest our people, intimidate them and assault them,” Mr Vanderpuye said.
He added that he led the police and some of the victims to arrest some perpetrators of the act.
Meanwhile, the NPP’s Nii Lante Bannerman has denied orchestrating the attacks. He however accused Mr Vanderpuye of physically assaulting him this morning [Wednesday].
Mr Bannerman said on the Citi Breakfast Show that Mr Vanderpuye dealt him two punches on his jaw this morning within provocation.
“The MP attacked me this morning, physically… in the full glare of everybody this morning at James town. He came out of his car, I was sitting in my car, then he just punched me. I was in the car, I was defenseless… he crossed us with is car and got down, he punched me twice.There were more than 20 of his personal security guys,” he alleged.
This is not the first time such violent incident has been reported in the constituency especially within electioneering periods.
‘War for war’
Nii Lante Vandepuye who doubles as the Minister for Youth and Sports said he had consistently called for peace and urged his supporters to exercise restrain even when provoked but will not hesitate of be violent when his opponent insists on attacking residents in the area and his supporters.
“I will continue to preach peace but if my son will not give me peace, I will not give him rest. I am reaching my limit, if Bannerman wants peace, I will give him peace, if he wants war, I will give him ten folds,” he said.
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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana