New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for Akim Sweru in the Eastern Region is calling for swift prosecution of irate New Patriotic Party youth who burnt party members at Salaga in the Northern Region.
According to Kennedy Osei Nyarko, a stiffer punishment for the “arsonists” will deter others from engaging in similar crimes in future.
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The youth group affiliated to the ruling NPP went on a rampage Tuesday, February 12, 2019, setting the NPP office in Salaga ablaze and destroying property in the town.
Their action, reports say was to register their displeasure at the President’s announcement of Damango as the capital of the newly-created Savannah region.
The youth also tore down billboards and campaign posters of the NPP.
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The protesters argued that the people of Salaga South showed faith in the NPP by voting for the party’s parliamentary candidate, Salifu Adam Braimah as Parliamentarian.
They said the choice of Damongo which voted for the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate Adam Mutawakilu, was a betrayal of their loyalty to the NPP.
The police are said to have so far arrested seven people responding for the arson.
Public Relations Officer of the Northern Regional Police Command, DSP Mohammed Yussif Tanko told Joy News the police are on a manhunt for more suspects in relation to the disturbances which included arson.
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Reacting to the issue on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem programme Wednesday, Hon. Osei Nyarko said such conduct is unbecoming of the youth in the north.
He feared their conduct will mar a hitherto smooth process to accelerate development in the region which is one of the poorest in the country.
The Akyem Swedru MP called on party executives not to interfere and allow the police to work.
“They should be punished severely, they should not spare anybody. We cannot continue to put the law into our own hands”.
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Hon. Osei Nyarko urged the police to deal with persons who would take to violence to object to the sitting of new regional capitals.
In support, National Democratic Congress (NDC) MP for Lower Manya Krobo, Ebenezer Manya Krobo, Ebenezer Teye Larbi described the action of the youth as “primitive”.
He believes the youth who engaged in the arson were “remote-controlled” by some ‘big men’ who are not in favour of Damongo as capital.
Hon. Teye Larbi joined calls for their prosecution to deter others from doing same.