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The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has claimed that the violence recorded at the Talensi constituency on Tuesday was started by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) when it became evident that the party was going to lose the by-election.

The national chairman of the NDC, Kofi Portuphy, addressing the media in Bolgatanga, the Upper Regional capital, said the NPP started painting a very bad picture about the electoral process, as far back as Saturday, July 4, so as to provide a fertile ground for the party to foment trouble on the election day.

According the national chairman, on Monday, July 6, the NPP started showing signs of violence as its members attacked some NDC officials and members who were organising health-screening exercises in certain parts of the constituency.

“Specifically, the violence took place in Dakoto, Wakii, Bapulugo and Pusunamongo, where equipment were seized, health workers beaten up, their uniforms torn and community members chased away. The NPP MP for Bunkprugu, Solomon Boar and the NPP Northern Regional Youth Organiser, Alhaji Rashid COP, are two of the NPP persons who actively participated in unleashing violence on innocent NDC members,” Kofi Portuphy asserted.

Chairman Portuphy said the incidents on Monday were reported to the police in the Talensi Constituency and the names of the two NPP members mentioned to them, yet they were not arrested, adding, “….the police must arrest the Bunkprugu MP and pick up Rashid from the Northern Region.”

He noted that but for the continuation of the NPP’s violence on Tuesday, July 7, the by-election would have been very peaceful and calm, because even as late as 1:30 pm, people were peacefully casting their votes when the NPP decided to create unnecessary tension in the area.

“For a very lawless reason the NPP decided to mass up in front of their party office on the main Winkongo Junction to Tongo road; mounted an illegal road block, and started attacking NDC officials and party members with all kinds of dangerous weapons, including cutlasses and guns, leading to the injuries and destruction of vehicles. Not less than four vehicles belonging to the NDC officials were shot at and destroyed by the NPP thugs and hoodlums,” Mr Portuphy claimed.

Portuphy, flanked by some NDC big-wigs, said it was surprising to hear NPP leaders and party apparatchiks pervade the airwaves with what they described as horrible comments to how they would do everything and anything to win the 2016 elections.

“Well, if they think they are going to use the Talensi by-election to run a dress rehearsal for implementing their plans for 2016, they must be revising their notes by now as it is very clear that they will not be allowed to have their way and throw this dear country of ours into deep state of anarchy and mayhem,” he warned.

The NDC chairman commended the media for ensuring that the election was not marred.