There was near scuffle between the Minister of Works and Housing Francis Asenso-Boakye, who doubles as the Incumbent Member of Parliament (MP) for Bantama, and his rival, a lawyer and brother of the outspoken politician, Mr Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, Mr. Ralph Agyapong.
The tension escalated when Mr Asenso-Boakye began singing loudly at the voting centre, a move deemed unprofessional by Mr. Ralph Agyapong his main contender.
However, prompt intervention by the police officers and Electoral Commission officers prevent the situation from worsening.
NPP Bantama constituency in the Ashanti region is one of several constituencies that have witnessed some degree of violence during internal parliamentary polls.
The parliamentary elections that ushered in the incumbent MP in 2020 also witnessed a similar altercation between the them sitting MP and this same Mr Asenso-Boakye.
During an interview, Francis Asenso-Boakye defended his singing, while Ralph Agyapong criticized his opponent’s conduct.
Additionally, Francis Asenso-Boakye refuted allegations that he had camped some delegates at a church in the constituency, clarifying that he had merely organized a morning devotion for the delegates and other residents.
Explaining what had happened, he told Citi News in an interview that, “The guy was upset that I was singing and he said that I don’t respect myself that was why I was singing.”
Responding to allegations of camping delegates, he said “No, there is no iota of truth. Nobody can camp delegates. These delegates are not kids. Some are as old as my grandfather. So how can you camp your grandfather, how can you camp your father? Nobody has camped anybody. There was a morning devotion and some people decided to join me.”
Mr Agyapong on his part said “The police instructed both of us to come and sit here. When we came they were discussing with us the election process and they made us understand that we have to calm our tempers and all that and he started insulting me.
Can you sing in an election center? It is very unprofessional, so Ghanaians should look at the kind of Minister that we have. This is a Minister of State, Works and Housing. Very unprofessional. This gentleman, if it had been any other country, do you think he would qualify to be a minister of state? We should be ashamed of ourselves,” Mr. Agyepong said.
Read Also >>> MEDIA BLACKOUT DIRECTIVE ON HAWA KOOMSON UNFAIR – NPP RESPONDS TO GJA
In a related development, Police had to intervene to prevent an escalation of violence at the Bortianor-Ngleshie-Amafro and Anyaa-Sowutuom constituencies in the ongoing parliamentary primaries of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
One person was arrested at Bortianor-Ngleshie-Amafro for an attempt to prevent another delegate from casting her ballot, stating that her name was not on the register and must not be allowed to participate in the process.
A fight between the Nasara Coordinator, for Anyaa-Sowutuom, Mustapha Osman and the constituency Women’s Organiser, Hajia Hawa erupted over a dispute about the eligibility of a delegate.
Personnel from the Ghana Police Service quickly moved in to prevent an escalation in both cases.
Police officers at the Mion constituency voting centre had to escort one Rashid Goodman out of the voting area to prevent angry bystanders from attacking him.
He was accused of slapping the NPP Constituency Chairman, Sule Fuseini Alhassan, an accusation he denied during police questioning.
Read Also >>> I’LL TACKLE UNEMPLOYMENT IF ELECTED IN 2024 – JOHN MAHAMA REASSURES
