The Pusiga Constituency Secretary of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bashiru Karim has clarified the circumstances that led to the destruction of structures belonging to the party.
Some youth of the area are seen in videos shared on social media, vandalizing wooden structures and paraphernalia of the NPP.
A voice is heard in the videos, saying, “this is Gariki, we are destroying NPP base”. The voice also mentioned the name of National Democratic Congress’ (NDC) parliamentary candidate for the area, saying “we are waiting for you here”.
Reports that followed claim the disturbance was fuelled by political rivalry between youth groups of the two main political parties.
But speaking on Breakfast Today on Monday, Bashiru clarified that the destruction was due to a misunderstanding between the youth and elders of the community.
“It was just a small misunderstanding between the elders of Gariki and some youth in area,” he said.
He explained that elders of the community had summoned the youngsters for a meeting at which they directed them (youth) to scale down speed ramps the youngsters had mounted close to their meeting place.
The mounting of the speed ramps were said to have raised tensions in the area and resulted in near physical confrontation between the group and motorists, who complained about the inconveniences the ramps created.
In a bid to resolve the matter, the community leadership summoned the group to a meeting and asked that they scale down the ramps in height.
Displeased with the directive, the group walked out of the meet, an act that the elders considered disrespectful.
The elders, in reaction, ordered that their meeting place be dismantled and the benches they sit on seized.
But before this order could be executed, the youngsters went ahead to destroy the meeting place and set the structure on fire.
