Scores National Democratic Congress Supporters have besieged the party’s national headquarters in Accra to express their anger at the violence at some polling stations in Ayawaso West Wuogon that has forced the party to withdraw from ongoing by election.
The supporters are demanding of their party national executives, action in response to the gunshot incident at their candidate’s house leading to the injury of six persons near a polling station at La-Bawaleshie in Accra Thursday.
Two of them are in critical condition, the party said after visiting the injured at the Legon Hospital.
Their deafening anger forced the chairman of the party Samuel Ofosu Ampofo to temporarily end a news conference called to address the incident which has tainted what would have been a peaceful by-election.
Some party members are also not happy about the decision of the party to withdraw from the election though the condemned the violent acts.
The situation has resulted in a standoff at the party headquarters as supporters most of who wore red bands. It took the intervention of some national officers of the party to restrain the supporters for the conference to continue.
Mr. Ofosu Ampofo said they condemn “the acts and atrocities” meted out to their party agents and national officers deployed to monitor the electoral process.
“As you have seen our party supporters are angry. We are calling on all our party supporters to remain calm as they proceed to the EC and the IGP to register our protest,” he assured.
On their withdrawal from the election, he said considering the security breaches, the party cannot guarantee the safety of the party agents at the various polling station.
He said while they were withdrawing, they cannot prevent anyone from going ahead to vote as the NDC is not the body conducting the by-election.
Mr. Ofosu Ampofo has meanwhile asked that all party flags fly at half-mast to show solidarity to the injured and those who are even on the verge of death, saying “our prayers and thoughts are with them”.
He assured the supporters that the party will pursue the matter which he said has tainted the country’s democracy.
“[We are] sending a clear signal to the Commander in chief of GAF, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo that democracy is under siege; today is a very sad day for democracy and the NDC as a party cannot and will not be a part of the exercise” he stated..
By 3news.com|Ghana