A well organised pack of lies packaged by leading members of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) with a media backing yesterday, painted a bloody picture of the by-election held in Talensi Constituency of the Upper East Region.
Among the claims were that, Nana Akufo-Addo’s cousin, Gabby Otchere-Darko, claimed that shots were fired at him at Talensi, in the full glare of personnel of the security services, who looked on unperturbed, whiles agents of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), engaged in sporadic gunfire at NPP elements.
Reports that Freddie Blay, a First vice-chairman of the NPP, was hospitalized at the Regional Hospital as a result of injuries turned out to be untrue, as he and two others were spotted there, but did not undergo medical treatment, as reported by the media.
Medical officers of the Bolgatanga hospital, who reportedly saw Mr. Blay and his two colleagues, had a brief but friendly chat with them, but they later drove away. Commenting on Twitter, Gabby said: “I just got shot @ by drive-pass gang in pickup. 12 shots fired at us in front of NPP office, with soldiers nearby. No injuries.”
Freddie Blay, who has taken over the administration of the NPP from the ostracized National Chairman, Paul Afoko, and General Secretary, Kwabena Agyapong, also claimed to have been beaten up by youth of the NDC, together with Kwabena Abankwa-Yeboah, national treasurer of the NPP; and former deputy minister for youth and sports in the Kufuor administration, Rashid Bawa.
Mr. Koku Anyidoho, denied the claim saying, the three were attacked by the pro-NPP group linked to Paul Afoko Bolga Bulldogs for usurping Mr. Afoko’s role in the party by keeping him out of the NPP, his home region for the by-election.
But Mr. Bawa, a former member of the NDC who defected to the NPP, speaking on Accra-based Citi FM from the Talensi Constituency, insists that Mr. Abankwa-Yeboah and Mr. Bawa, alleged that the assault on them was sanctioned by the Interior Minister, Mr. Mark Woyongo.
He further claimed that, a number of their personal assistants, including Freddie Blay, were beaten up by the pro-NDC group Azorka Boys, who are linked to Sofo Azorka, the NDC Northern Regional Chairman yesterday.
Contrary to claims that Mr. Blay was hospitalized, Rashid Bawa, said he was only traumatized at the attack on him by the Azorka Boys and had to be sent somewhere.
The Deputy NDC General Secretary, had also told Citi FM how irate supporter of the NPP were bating for his blood at a roadblock they had mounted on the main Talensi road threatening and attacking NDC supporters going about their official duties. He was forced to go to the Bolga Police to lodge an official complaint with them.
Vehicles of the NDC officials, including that of a District Chief Executive (DCE) was destroyed yesterday by the NPP irate supporters.
The prevailing lawlessness in Talensi yesterday, is said to have prompted Police to fire teargas to disperse irate youth of the NPP, who had barricaded their party office at Tongo in the Talensi Constituency of the Upper East region, ostensibly to defend it from suspected thugs.
Many media outlets, had claimed there were gunshots ringing through the Talensi Constituency capital, Tongo with NPP Vice-Chairman, Freddie Blay, and two others attacked.
Joy FM had written that “Mr. Blay and the National Treasurer of the NPP, Mr. Abankwah Yeboah, have been injured and are receiving treatment in hospital. Joy News’ Upper East regional correspondent, Albert Sore, reported there is chaos and confusion especially at the offices of the NPP”.
Some unidentified men wielding guns and sticks, tried to attack the office but were warded off. They, however, shot at a vehicle parked in front of the office. The NPP Treasurer, later told Asempa FM, he together with Freddie Blay and Rashid Bawa, were observing the polls at the Balogo polling station when the men suspected to be Azorka boys, pounced on them.
“Myjoyonline.com cannot independently confirm the veracity of the claim by Mr Abankwa, but he said the attack was completely unprovoked. He added that but for the timely intervention of the military, the situation would have been disastrous”, it said.
“He said, they were ushered to the Bolgatanga hospital by the military men. Gun shot at party office Later, Gabby Asare Otchere Darko told Joy News, some unidentified men fired as many as 12 shots confining members of the NPP in the Constituency office. He could not say why the men were opening fire on them and some vehicles at the NPP office”, the radio station further said
He suspected the men were the notorious Azorka Boys from Tamale.
According to him, he had only returned from the Bolgatanga Hospital where Freddie Blay and Abankwa Yeboah, had been receiving treatment after they were attacked. He said, the situation at the office was anything but peaceful.
He alleged the police looked on, whilst the men went on rampage firing their guns. The Talensi election, became necessary after Robert Monsore resigned as MP after he was enskinned as the Talensi Chief. Over 34,000 electorates are expected to cast their ballot in 74 polling stations in the Talensi Constituency.
Accra-based Starr FM, also reported that “the first Vice National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, Freddie Blay has been hospitalised in the Upper East region after he was allegedly attacked by some members of pro-NDC group, ‘Azorka Boys’”.
The Starr FM reporter, by name Ibrahim Alhassan, also claimed that Mr. Blay who is on admission at the regional hospital told him in a phone interview that some Azorka boys attacked him and members of his monitoring team without any form of provocation.
He added that the Azorka boys also prevented Mr. Blay and his team from monitoring the ongoing by-election in the Constituency.
According to Alhassan, some members of the NPP monitoring team, have sustained some injuries and are currently receiving treatment.
At the time of going to press, the 39,523 registered voters had finished voting and the results were trickling in from the various polling stations.
Political watchers and pollsters, have tipped the ruling NDC to recapture the seat it has dominated for over 20 years, until the opposition NPP snatched it in the 2012 general elections.
The by-election was a straight fight between the NDC’s BT Baba and Thomas Duanab of the NPP.
Ahead of the contest, guns, machetes and other dangerous weapons were retrieved from the various individuals entering the Constituency. But it appears more entered the constituency than retrieved.
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