Political Violence erupts at Winneba

But for the timely intervention of the Winneba Police, there would have been a bloody clash between members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) at Winneba.The incident which happened at the Winneba Senior High School Junction, saw members of both parties attacking and assaulting each other.According to the Police, members of the NPP were on a thanksgiving walk from Winneba Junction to Winneba Township while the NDC had assembled at Winneba Senior High School Junction to embark on a demonstration.The police who were at the scene to escort the NDC demonstrators, timely saved the situation by calming down tempers, paving the way for the NPP to pass and the NDC to go on with their demonstration.Information gathered from the police indicated that its office received a letter dated Wednesday, September 25 from the NDC informing them of a demonstration on electoral malpractices on Tuesday, October 2.The source revealed that another letter, dated, Saturday September 28 from the NPP for a thanksgiving walk from Winneba Junction to Winneba Township on the same day, reached their office but the police told the NPP to change the date to avoid clashes.However, the two political parties carried out their activities on the same date.Dr James Kofi Annan, the NDC Parliamentary Candidate later commended the police officers detailed to monitor the demonstration for the professional manner they handled the situation.He blamed the 'unfortunate incident' on the Effutu Divisional Police Commander, ACP Jeffery Darko whom he said was not on top of affairs in Effutu Constituency.But in an interview with ACP Darko, explained that he could not be blamed because, his office and the Effutu Municipal Election Taskforce met on the issue and asked NPP to change its date.He said neither his office nor the Election Taskforce anticipated the incident because they both did their best to ensure peace in the Area.Source: Ghana News Agency