Election 2024: NDC warns of potential election violence in Awutu Senya East, calls for increased security
Ghana's National Democratic Congress (NDC) has sounded the alarm over potential election violence in the Awutu Senya East constituency, just days before the country heads to the polls.
The party's constituency youth organiser, Nash Nyande Adams, revealed at a press conference on Nov 30 that individuals linked to past election disturbances have resurfaced in the area, sparking fears of chaos.
The NDC is urging the Inspector General of Police, Dr George Akuffo Dampare, to deploy additional security personnel to the constituency to prevent a repeat of the violence witnessed during the 2020 elections.
The party is also calling for law enforcement agencies to remain vigilant at polling stations and safeguard the integrity of the electoral process.
“We have picked up intelligence that individuals who fired gunshots into the crowd at the Steps to Christ Centre that led to one person sustaining injuries during the 2020 elections are in the constituency a few days before the elections. We want the IGP Dr George Akuffo Dampare to take up the matter since we don’t want a repeat of the 2020 incident.
“The IGP must act swiftly and decisively in the face of this mounting threat. This intelligence must not be treated with indifference. It must be acted upon before this dangerous plot unfolds,” the constituency youth organiser said.
“As NDC members in Awutu Senya East, we stand ready to ensure that the will of the people is not trampled upon. Let it be known that if the police fail to protect us, we will stand ready to protect ourselves and our members,” Nash Nyande Adams said.
Tensions are running high in the constituency, with the NDC reporting the destruction of billboards and posters belonging to their parliamentary candidate, Phyllis Naa Koryoo Okunnor.
The party has accused the police of failing to take action, despite repeated reports of the incidents.
“We want the IGP to immediately deploy a dedicated task force to the constituency to investigate and arrest individuals involved in the wanton destruction of NDC billboards and posters as well as those who sponsor these criminal acts.
“Failure on the part of law enforcement agencies to act will further embolden these individuals to continue. As NDC, we will no longer tolerate this glaring impunity,” Adams added.
Source: Florence Kyei /Lead News Online
