The MP had reportedly been holding series of engagements and meetings with his constituents in the building as part of activities to mark the Christmas festivities when at the time the incident took place.

The alleged assailants, numbering about six and wielding dangerous objects and machetes stormed Mr. Opoku’s residence at about 11:30am and forcefully gained access to the main building.

They reportedly broke the glass windows and doors of the house, vandalised several of the vehicles that had been parked on the property and other things they could lay their hands on.

However, when they failed to gain access to one of the top floors of the building where the participants of the event had been moved, the angry youths turned their attention to the private and commercial vehicles which had been hired by the sympathizers and supporters of the MP, breaking the windscreens, side mirrors and deflating the tyres.

According to Citi News checks, the programme hosted by the MP was an annual event organized to interact with his constituents to make merry, share experiences and also afford him the opportunity to render an account of his stewardship.

Confirming the incident to Citi News, the Director of Elections of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Constituency, Prince Nyarko said the programme was the fourth to have been organized by the party and the MP and saw over 300 people in attendance.

He alleged that members of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) were behind the attack.

“We picked up signals and threats from the NPP supporters to attack the venue if people did not stop going to the house or the programme. We took the threats for granted and to our surprise, they came there with machetes and one of them was holding a gun and started attacking people in the house but fortunately, no injuries were recorded so we quickly moved them upstairs and they started destroying the parked vehicles including the rented commercial ones. Surprisingly, what is the link between somebody’s private commercial vehicle which he is using for his business to earn a living and Eric Opoku’s political career? They destroyed his Landcruiser and four other cars in the process”, he narrated.

He said the matter had been reported to the District Police who assured them that investigations into the incident have commenced

He also pledged to assist the security agencies to bring the perpetrators to book as he could identify a number of them.

Prince Nyarko assured supporters and sympathizers to remain calm and not attempt any reprisal attacks that would jeopardise the peace in the area as the MP and victims of the attack were safe and are waiting for directives and action from the police.

He observed Sankore has been a stronghold of the NDC since 1992 and accused the NPP of doing everything in their power to intimidate and cause fear and panic gain political power in the area.

“The cause in Asunafo South is purely political and one may ask why always Sankore? Where polling station matters in an election and Sankore has been the stronghold of the NDC since 1992 so the NPP is taking advantage to make the place ungovernable to prevent people from voting. So that is the only reason for these disturbances. So people coming in their numbers to welcome and interact with the MP in the numbers tell how unpopular their administration is in the constituency so that is why they are doing this”, he opined.

On the way forward to end these acts of violence and intimidations, Mr. Nyarko said the security agencies must let the law work in the constituency as a failure to enforce the existing laws was leading to the unnecessary loss of lives and destruction of properties.

“In the Asunafo South laws do not work. At the elections, you can count over 600 incidents pending at the police station, lives lost, money and properties destroyed. Even my house has been attacked more than nine times without reason,” he fumed.

He noted their common enemy was poverty, illiteracy and weak socio-economic development of the area and stretched a hand of friendship to all political parties and development partners to collaborate and fight for the economic transformation of the area.

Police in the area remain tight-lipped on the matter but Citi News checks revealed that the Regional Commander will be visiting the troubled area.

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By: Mashoud Kombat/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Asunafo South MP’s residence attacked, several cars vandalised appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Akosua Brago, who is in a critical condition, and the deceased, had been in a relationship for the last six months but had no children.

[contextly_sidebar id=”tTLJHp7OJ8CdxlOsjAVpVzBbsOgmo7JO”]The Kukuom District Police commander, DSP Robert Kwasi Boakye who confirmed this to Citi News’ partner station in the region, Success FM, said the incident happened on Sunday, October 22, 2017 around 9:00pm.

“Its true that a case of such nature has occurred at Sankore, but it’s not a murder case, its an attempted murder because the victim is still alive and what happened is that, the deceased person and the victim are in relationship but of late the relationship hit the rocks, so the lady (Akosua Brago) is living around and no one knows what happened that day.”

“The lady was about to bath and the man attacked her, alarm was blown and some people came to the scene and the man managed to escaped from the scene. The woman was sent to the hospital when the man was sought for. He was found lying in the bush dead,” he said.

He added that the victim, Akosua Brago, whose age is yet to be determined, is now receiving treatment at Star of Hope Hospital in Sankore.

So far, the body of the deceased has been deposited at Goaso Government mortuary awaiting an autopsy.

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By: Atiewin Mohammed/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Farmer assaults wife, kills himself at Sankore appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The deceased, popularly known as Gatuso, who lives at Sankore Zongo, was gunned down on Saturday night during the riot while two persons sustained gun wounds.

It is unclear whether the riot was linked to the tension between the supporters of the two main political giants.

[contextly_sidebar id=”Ejg5C6JZnsbM8YEWOzZU9DcEeBU6VENu”]Confirming the incident to Citi News, the Asunafo South District Police Commander, ASP Kwasi Boakye said: “on Saturday…a boy was shot dead out of some misunderstanding, at Sankore  at Sankore Zongo”.

“We are yet to establish the actual cause but so far what I have is that there is one Atta Kwasi that the NPP boys are also not happy with him be in the town, because of how he (Atta Kwasi) handled them during NDC time. So they would like to see him either in police custody or prison because of the crimes that he committed. So any time they see him they would like to arrest him and he is very evasive too. We have told them that they should inform the police so that we go in to arrest him, but you know tempers are always high against him, that one also contributed to it. I learnt that they saw him and wanted to arrest him and some NDC supporters went in to support him and it got to that,” he said.

He said Atta Kwasi is on police wanted list but attempts to arrest him proved futile.

ASP Boakye said two persons have so far been arrested and many declared wanted while investigations continue.

The body of the deceased has been deposited at the Goaso Government Hospital morgue for autopsy.

We can’t develop with violence – Asunafo South DCE

The clashes come on the back of a call by the District Chief Executive (DCE) for the area, Osei Bonsu Snr, for peace to prevail in the district.

According to him, development initiatives can only thrive in a peaceful environment. He lamented the situation where the assembly’s resources are channeled to maintaining law and order instead of being used to execute development projects.

Violence in Asunafo South
Asunafo South is one of the hot spots in the country especially during election periods.

In 2016, some residents of the area vandalized the office of the Electoral Commission during a special exercise to register new voters.

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By: Atiewin Mohammed/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post 1 killed in NPP, NDC supporters clash in Asunafo South appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to him, development initiatives can only thrive in a peaceful environment. He lamented the situation where the assembly’s resources are channeled to maintaining law and order instead of being used to execute development projects.

“A lot of our resources and money coming in are used to pay for the services of the military and police in the district. As of now, we owe a lot concerning military and police visits to the district, so we don’t have money to even execute projects. In fact, we spend GHc 1,200.00 on the patrol team and this should not be the case. The little revenue we have, we are using it to maintain law and order,” he added.

Mr. Bonsu Snr. made the appeal on the sidelines of a district town hall meeting organized by MAP International, a Christian Non Governmental Organization implementing the Ghana Strengthening and Accountability Mechanisms Project (GSAM) in the Brong Ahafo Region.

The interaction was to afford community members the opportunity to demand accountability from contractors and the assembly as well as answer queries on projects being executed in their communities.

The programme is supported by IBIS-Ghana, Integrated Social development Centre (ISODEC), and CARE International, and sponsored by the United State Agency for International Development (USAID).

The DCE pledged to constitute a reconciliation committee to foster peace and unity in the area by bringing all political parties on board for the district’s sustainable development as well as champion effective decentralization processes.

This according to the DCE will help to build trust, good rapport and establish the actual cause of reprisal attacks that have been the source of mistrust between the two main political parties in the district.

He promised to turn the fortunes of the district from a conflict ridden area into a business center.

Earlier, the Country Team Leader, Gilbert Asante and Programmes Officer, Nana Ama Tiwa-Boateng of MAP International, took participants through the aims and objectives of the GSAM project, and encouraged them to fully participate in the exercise to promote sustainable development.

She encouraged them to put into use all the skills and knowledge acquired in their training as community monitors, preparation of score cards, monitoring of projects and interface sessions to demand accountability.

Violence in Asunafo South

Asunafo South is one of the hot spots in the country especially during election periods.

In 2016, some residents of the area vandalized the office of the Electoral Commission during a special exercise to register new voters.

–

By: Mashoud Kombat/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post We can’t develop with violence – Asunafo South DCE appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Osei Bonsu Snr said farmers in the area along the Tano River in the district, have increased their acreage in view of the rising industrial demand for rice, and that a processing plant in the district would be welcomed.

[contextly_sidebar id=”viyMlpd6jwp6KMsOFJOatGu4PBt2HCSU”]He continued that, such a facility would change the face of farming, create jobs and expand the local economy with opportunities for small scale industries to venture into agribusiness.

“Asunafo South apart from rice cultivation, has the potential in cassava, maize, plantain, yam, beans and cocoa production, but rice and cassava is the best for farmers here,” he explained

Osei Bonsu spoke to Citi News during a familiarization tour by chiefs and people of Siana, Nobekaw, Anwiam and Sankore.

The DCE noted that, players in small and medium scale enterprises were expectant and hopeful that factories to be established in the district would be agro-based in view of the agricultural potential of the region.

He therefore urged Chiefs in communities like Dantano, Anwiam,Tanoso and Siana and Nobekaw, to release more than 20,000 acres of land along River Tano for the project, since peasant farmers are already in the area.

The DCE said government will make real its promise to support agriculture and agribusiness to create jobs and ensure food security.
–

By:Atiewin Mohammed/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post DCE proposes rice factory for Asunafo South appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

This follows the release of about nine million liters of petrol to retail stations across the country.

Citi News’ checks reveal there are still queues at some of the pump stations despite the release of fuel.

The Chamber insists the situation will ease significantly by close of the day.

Speaking to Citi News, the Chief Executive Officer of the Chamber of Bulk Oil distribution Companies, Senyo Horsi explained that the Chamber will try to move documentation and swap products across depots to be able to sell fuel from the Accra depot.

“We are trying to move documentation and swap products across depots so we can sell out of Accra depot which belongs to the BDC stock… we are expecting that we should be able to move even more today since we will be having even more terminals to sell out,” Mr. Horsi explained.

He noted that some consumers did not have fuel because the distribution made by the BDCs was not reflecting at the various stations.

Another contributing factor to the problem, he said, was the refusal of some filling stations to sell the fuel it had received from the BDCs to consumers.

Mr Horsi  encouraged Ghanaians not to panic since the problem will be addressed after the BDCs distribute more fuel on Monday.

“We believe that we would have more credits today or tomorrow ….the situation should not be a problem at all.”

Meanwhile, Citi FM’s Ashanti regional correspondent, Hawa Iddrisu says the fuel shortage problem still persists in the region despite government’s release of fuel.

According to her, some filling stations in the city have closed down while others are waiting in long queues to be served.

“I spoke to one of the petrol attendants and she told me that she needs to speak to his manager before he can serve his clients with petrol,” Hawa Iddrisu said.

From Ho, Norbert Akpabli reported that “the drivers are considering the sort of route where they will get more passengers so they can efficiently use their little fuel and get their needed profit at the end of the day.”

“Some commuters are also struggling with this problem because they have to stand by the roadside for close to thirty minutes before they can get a vehicle to their destination,” Nobert added.

Speaking to Citi News, a taxi driver said “the shortage is affecting productivity in the region.”

Reporting from the Upper East Region, Fred Awuni, said prices of fuel have risen following the shortage.

According to him, “the fuel situation in the Upper East region has still not changed after the National Petroleum Authority announced that it has dispatched fuel into the system.”

“There are long queues in the region while others are hoarding the fuel they have. Workers are saying they will be unable to go to work due to the problem.”

Citi FM’s Northern regional correspondent, Mashood Kombat, reported that the police in the region are going round the various filling stations to check reports of hoarding in some filling stations.

According to Citi FM’s Tema correspondent, Elvis Washington, most of the people who visited the fuel stations in the area were turned away.

Citi FM’s Brong Ahafo regional correspondent, Kwadwo Brefo reports that the shortage has created a ‘black market’.

“Fuel in the region is being sold at exorbitant prices”

There has been fuel shortage in Accra and other regions for sometime now due to government’s inability to pay about 1.8 billion cedis owed the Bulk Oil Distributors Companies.

Government has so far paid about 600 million out of the total amount.

By: Marian Efe Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @EfeAnsah

The post Fuel supply to improve significantly – BDCs appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.