Blows At NDC Vetting

THE VETTING of aspiring parliamentary candidates for the National Democratic Congress(NDC) primaries in the Eastern region was marred by clashes between supporters of opposing candidates from Kade, New Juaben South and New Juaben North as party executives in the region struggled to calm down tempers. Supporters of the current District Chief Executive (DCE) for Kade, Reginald Aboagye Osae and those of George Agyemang Duah, who was removed as DCE for the same district in January this year, were yesterday seen trading insults and threatening each other with death. Supporters of the former DCE are accusing the current occupant of the position for his removal while those of the current DCE are also accusing the former DCE of being a latter-day �apostle�, with the backing of some influential party people in the region. The scene was so ugly at the regional office of the party that opposing supporters �charged� on each other, with some almost trading blows. In New Juaben South, supporters of Dr Kwaku Owusu-Acheampong, a lecturer at the Koforidua Polytechnic, also traded insults with those of Ransford Owusu Boakye, the regional coordinator of NADMO, who was the party�s parliamentary candidate for 2008. Supporters of Dr Owusu-Acheampong described Mr Owusu Boakye as an illiterate who could not even get the position of the Municipal Chief Executive. They said they wanted an educated person who could bring �glory� to the constituency, while Owusu Boakye�s supporters also lambasted the lecturer as being a latter-day �apostle� who wanted to reap where he had not sown. From the New Juaben North, supporters of Livingstone Asamoah stormed the vetting venue and accused the constituency executives of �doctoring� the delegates� register to favour one candidate, stressing that if the �original� list was not restored, they would never allow voting to take place in the constituency. Even after the vetting, opposing supporters of candidates from these constituencies were still threatening fire and brimstone. From the Kade constituency, two other aspiring candidates, Sabina Faustina Jones and Obeng Afrane who were seen as �outsiders�, were vetted without any problems. The vetting, which started on Monday, had been peaceful until yesterday when supporters of various candidates clashed at the vetting, forcing some regional executives to leave the vetting room. So far, candidates from the Abuakwa North, Okere, Abetifi, Akropong, Suhum, Akwatia, Aburi-Nsawam, Atiwa, Ofoase-Ayirebi, New Juaben South, New Juaben North, Kade, Mpraeso and Nkawkaw have been vetted, with Ayensuano, Lower West Akim, Akim Oda, Akim Swedru, Abuakwa South, Abirem and Fanteakwa remaining. The deputy regional secretary of the party, Matthew Doh, promised that the region would look at the complaints from New Juaben North especially and see how best the matter could be resolved.