Supporters of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) clashed over the pasting of posters on a billboard in the central business district of the Bongo Constituency of the Upper East Region.
In a video being circulated on social media, angry supporters of the NDC are heard ordering a supposed member of the NPP in a yellow shirt and jeans trouser to remove a large poster of president Akufo-Addo pasted on that of the MP for the Constituency, Edward Bawa and flagbearer of the NDC, John Dramani Mahama.
While the young man obliged and tears down the large poster of president Akufo-Addo, he is video recorded with a voice at the background explaining that the video recording will be presented as evidence in case of an eventuality.
Voices of others present who seemed livid over the actions of the supposed members of the NPP are heard questioning why their opponents would paste their poster to cover that of the NDC with some suggesting that it is a deliberate attempt to infuriate them.
Voices of the alleged NPP supporters are heard dismissing the claims by the NDC members.
“Remove it! Let him remove it because this (NDC’s posters) was pasted before they came to paste that one (NPP’s poster). They are looking for our trouble. You (NPP supporters) saw the poster yet you went ahead to paste yours on it so remove it. We are recording so that if it becomes an issue, we will present it as evidence. They are looking for our trouble,” the aggrieved NDC supporters are heard saying.
“What shows that they want trouble? Are you are the only one here with a voice?” a voice is heard countering comments made by one of the NDC supporters.
The Bongo Constituency is said to be one of the keenly contested constituencies in the December elections as the current District Chief Executive of the Bongo District, Peter Ayinbisa who has been credited with a significant number of developmental projects faces off with the incumbent NDC MP for the area, Edward Bawa.
According to the NDC Member of Parliament, he had reported the incident to the Bongo District Commander and the Paramount Chief of the Bongo Traditional area.
The opposition NDC has been winning the constituency both presidential and parliamentary elections since the inception of the Fourth Republic.
But political observers say the NPP parliamentary candidate poses a threat to the NDC’s bid to retain the Bongo seat and may end the opposition party continuous dominance of the Constituency.