NDC: BRING TAMALE MISUNDERSTANDING UNDER CONTOL (PAGE 16)

THE National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Northern Region has given the security agencies a 24-hour ultimatum to fish out and bring to book activists of the NPP it alleges had perpetrated acts of violence against its members.
This the party noted was essential to avoid the further breach of the peace and security of the area.
Addressing a press conference in Tamale, the Regional Chairman of the NDC, Alhaji Sumani Zakari, indicated that “if the situation continues we cannot guarantee what might happen as the youth are poised to protect lives and properties by themselves; it will be difficult for us to control them”.
The conference followed hostilities between supporters of the two parties after the NPP Vice-Presidential condidate, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, had addressed a rally at the Tamale Jubilee Park on Sunday evening.
Followers of both parties were spotted earlier in the day wearing their respective party paraphernalia in jubilant moods. While the NPP supporters were welcoming their Vice-Presidential nominee, Dr Bawumia, into the metropolis from Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region, their NDC counterparts were also inaugurating an Atta Mills and John Mahama Fan Club outside the Kaladan Park.
In the ensuing misunderstanding both supporters destroyed each other’s sheds while a number of motorbikes were burnt in the process. There were also sporadic shootings in the central business district leading to a number of persons sustaining various degrees of injury.
There was, however, no reported incidents of casualties neither have there been any arrest in connection with the incident.
According to Alhaji Zakari, the security agencies should take responsibility for the situation and bring the disturbances under control before the situation escalates.
He condemned reports by a section of the media that suggested that supporters of the NDC caused the disturbances, and described such media reportage as a misrepresentation of facts and a departure from what actually happened on the ground.
The chairman further denied reports in a section of the media to the effect that NDC supporters were the first to attack the NPP supporters.
According to the chairman, there was a “calculated attempt right from the time of the registration exercise to demonise the NDC in the region”.
Alhaji Zakari, therefore, stressed the need for the security agencies to investigate the incident in order to bring those causing the disturbances to book.
Touching on the earlier reports of a clash between the NDC and NPP at Kpatinga in the Gushegu District, Alhaji Zakari equally urged the security agencies to apprehend the perpetrators and bring the situation under control.
He further expressed regret that as a result of the clash two houses were burnt down in the area, one of which belonged to the NDC constituency chairman.