Demo Hits Goaso DCE

IRATE NATIONAL Democratic Congress (NDC) supporters in the Asunafo North constituency of the Brong Ahafo Region yesterday fiercely clashed with the Goaso police during a street protest to oust the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of the area, Mohammed Kwaku Doku, from office.

The demonstration, led by the youth wing of the party, initially started peacefully but later turned violent when the police crushed them for failing to obtain permit.

Several demonstrating supporters of the ruling party got injured in the process and two of them were said to have been in comma.

At the time of filing this report, the injured were on admission at the Goaso Municipal Hospital, while some arrests had been made.

According to the police, six of the ring leaders had been apprehended. They were Haruna Seidu, 37; Yussif Abiba, 28 and leader of the group; Ofori Atta, 29; Richard Kwasi, 29, Marfo John, 28 and Kwame Boakye, 31.

Reports DAILY GUIDE gathered indicated that the over 50 heavily armed police personnel subjected the NDC youth to severe beatings ostensibly under the instructions of the MCE, who was the target of the demonstration.

The scene created pandemonium in the municipality as residents started running helter-skater for dear life amidst firing of warning shots by the police.

Order was finally restored to the municipality after the police had managed to arrest the leadership of the NDC youth wing, who were leading the street protest.

Some of the placards the NDC youth carried earlier during the protest read, “Doku You Are Corrupt,” Collins Dauda, Stay Away From Doku,” “Doku, God is Bigger Than Juju,” and “Doku Go And Give Asunafo North NDC Peace.”

The Mim District Police Commander, ASP Annan, who was the commander-in-charge of the exercise, explained to a section of the press that the NDC youth did not obtained proper permit for their demonstration, hence the effort by the police to stop them in line with the public order law.

According to him, the NDC youth only brought a letter on Monday to draw the police attention to their intended action, but the police asked them to stop since they needed not less than five days notice, but the leadership did not heed to the police advice and went ahead with the demonstration.

Meanwhile, the NDC youth in the constituency have vowed to unseat Hon. Kwaku Doku, who they accused of collapsing the party in the area with his actions. They further accused him of allegedly giving government contracts to his wife and disrespecting party people.

They have given a strong signal to the NDC leadership and President John Dramani Mahama not to make the mistake of re-appointing Doku as Asunafo North MCE since the party youth will go every length to resist it.

The irate Asunafo North NDC youth said they were not perturbed by the hostile action of the police, who subjected them to heartless beatings, indicating that they were resolved in their efforts to ensure that the MCE was removed from office.

Meanwhile, efforts to speak to the MCE proved futile as all efforts to reach him on his cell phone became unsuccessful.