The Deputy Propaganda Secretary of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), Solomon Nkansah, has called for the immediate arrest of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for Manhyia in the Ashanti Region following clashes between his supporters and a young man at Ashtown, a suburb of Kumasi on Thursday evening.
A young man suspected to be a member of the NDC, Mathews, was attacked by some young men said to be part of a house to house campaign team led by Dr Mathew Opoku Prempeh aka Napo, after he (Mathews) fired at least one warning shot. Mathews was subsequently attacked by some persons following the campaign team, who shot him in the leg and inflicted machete wounds on him and his sister.
A by-stander was also hit by a stray bullet. All the wounded have been admitted at the hospital, with Mathews said to be in critical condition at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital.
Later in the evening, youths affiliated with Matthews went on rampage, looting some shops in the area. Police reinforcements have since been sent to the area to restore order, according to Public Relations Officer of the Ashanti Regional Police Command, ASP Mohammed Yussif Tanko, who told Adom FM�s Dwaso Nsem morning show that investigations have began.
However, Solomon Nkansah insists Napo should have been arrested immediately to assist in the investigations in order to restore confidence in the police and reassure the youth of their preparedness to ensure law and order. In his opinion, the arrest of the MP would also have restored calm to the area.
�Even if Mathews fired a warning shot, his attackers have no right to shoot him several times and use machetes to inflict cuts on him, his sister and other family.
�Why should an MP on house to house campaigning go with armed men? He should be arrested immediately.�
However, other panelists Samuel Amoako of the Progressive Peoples Party (PPP) and Kobby Annan of the NPP had a differing view, pointing out that the MP may not have been aware that somebody in his campaign team was armed. Moreover, the Police had invited Napo to give his account of the events that took place on Thursday.
Solomon Nkansah appealed to the media to be circumspect in their reportage, as one loose word could trigger violence especially in this highly tensed period leading to the December 7 presidential and parliamentary elections.
Source: Adomonline.com
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