In a Citi News interview, Mr. Vanderpuye lamented the insecurity in the area, which he says puts the lives of vulnerable residents at risk.

[contextly_sidebar id=”cuHL5Sw7y4DKDJJvo5C05OsqQoEVhBvd”]“I have no doubt in my mind that if we should be able to give that place the needed attention security wise, we will be able to make the peace loving Ghanaians who struggle to make ends meet within the community live in peace and tranquility,” he said.

The MP’s concerns with arms in the area, follow the clash at the Agbogbloshie Yam Market on Tuesday, which has so far left two dead and eight injured.

The clashes, which were reportedly sparked by an alleged mobile phone theft case, centred around two ethnic factions, the Konkombas and Dagombas, with reports from the ground indicating that there were assault rifles wielded by some aggressors.

Mr. Vanderpuye compared the potential cache of arms in the area to what would be found in a war zone and was adamant that, security personnel had to assert themselves on the area to stem the tide of clashes and possible reprisal attacks.

“The security has to be firm; they have to do sporadic and random searches and raids to make sure they rid the area of undesirables and also try as much as possible to clear those unlicensed weapons that are being used indiscriminately in the area.”

“Some of the weapons that these young guys brandish, you have no idea where they got them from. Some of them are serious assault rifles. Some are weapons that you expect only the security agencies to have and you don’t know where they get these weapons from.”

Five arrested so far

Five persons have been arrested in connection with the clashes, and police disclosed that some locally manufactured weapons have been retrieved from some of the suspects.

The Accra Regional Police Command is investigating the matter, and the area has remained calm since the clashes.

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Agbogbloshie must be purged of illicit arms – Nii Lante appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

His plea comes on the back renewed tensions between supporters of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the constituency.

[contextly_sidebar id=”SNEZN6GI9IjEN1d94AGQArfkBXEBeTHN”]Speaking to Citi News, Nii Lantey Vanderpuye assured that he would be a member of parliament for all the political party supporters in the constituency, regardless of the longstanding rivalry.

“We are a family and we decided that we should live in peace with our brothers and sisters. We thank God that no life was lost. We plead that all of them forgive one another. I have since been preaching peace and I am hoping that my people have accepted it good faith,” Mr. Vanderpuye said.

“Until the elections are done, I am still their MP and as such, I would want them to understand that I am preaching peace and any of them can come to me and share ideas on the way for this community.”

The Odododiodio Constituency has seen eruptions of violence between supporters of the NPP and the NDC, with the most recent being the violent clash between supporters of Mr. Vanderpuye and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Parliamentary Candidate for the area, Nii Lante Bannerman on November 8.

Mr. Vanderpuye, had alleged that, the NPP’s Nii Lante Bannerman masterminded the attacks on his supporters when his team ended a rally at Jamestown in the constituency.

He further threatened to take the law into his own hands, if the Police failed to intervene in the long-standing dispute.

The clashes reportedly left two persons critically injured, and led to the arrest of three persons who have since been granted bail by the police.

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Odododiodio troubles: Nii Lantey preaches forgiveness after clashes appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

A planned parliamentary debate between the NDC’s incumbent Member of Parliament, Nii Lante Vanderpuije, and NPP’s Nii Lante Bannerman, turned chaotic resulting in fisticuffs.

[contextly_sidebar id=”NBr8Vb9arpCZB37IaP1BfJAKHcLewlw3″]The Police have often been accused of failing to bring perpetrators of political violence to book; but the Public Relations Officer of the Ghana Police Service, ASP Cephas Arthur, said they will get to the bottom of this one.

“Investigation is in progress, the injured came for police forms and went to the hospital. They are assisting with investigation. We are in touch with some witnesses who are also helping our investigation. There haven’t been any arrest, but we have a couple of witnesses that we are working with. We are making some inroads before long we will get to the bottom of it.”

“Anybody who is a culprit in these disturbances will be brought to book. Let me urge some patience at this particular point in time. This is an event that happened that you need to conduct a painstaking investigation into it. I can assure you that we will do just that and before long we would get to the bottom of this incident,” he added.

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By: Felicia Osei/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Police yet to arrest culprits in Odododiodio NDC, NPP clashes appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.