NPP ACTIVIST URGES NDC TO RESTRAIN MEMBERS (PAGE 14)

An activist of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Asunafo South Constituency of the Brong Ahafo Region, Mr Stephen Atta, aka Wofa Atta or Nana Atta, has called on the National Executive of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to restrain supporters of the party in the constituency from attacking members of the NPP following the NDC’s victory in last year’s December general election.
Mr Atta particularly urged the NDC executive to call to order the Deputy Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Eric Opoku, whom he alleged had been masterminding the attacks on supporters of the NPP in the constituency, especially after he had visited the town following his successful vetting at the Parliamentary Appointments Committee.        
However, in a quick rebuttal, when contacted, Mr Eric Opoku vehemently denied any involvement in the incident and condemned it in the strongest term.
The NPP activist made the call following an alleged assault on him by a group of people at Sankore, whom he identified as being supporters of the NDC.
Mr Atta who came to the offices of the Daily Graphic in Sunyani explained that the alleged attack on him happened a couple of days after the Deputy Regional Minister visited the town when he had been sworn in, and he decided to go through the town to attend a thanksgiving service.
Narrating the incident, the NPP activist, who is also the Chairman of the Asunafo South Area Council and a farmer, further alleged that he was on his way from his sick brother’s house on a motorbike at about 6.00 p.m. when he met a group of NDC supporters led by one Mr Kwasi Kotodwe, and that as he was about to pass by them Mr Kotodwe made an attempt to strike him while he repeatedly said, “you foolish Nana Atta”.
According to Mr Atta, he then parked the motorbike and the leader of the group allegedly continued that, “we came for you, we are looking for you to beat you because we have been directed by your nephew to come and teach you a lesson”.
He indicated that when he inquired about who that nephew was Mr Kotodwe mentioned the Deputy Regional Minister as the one who had given the directive, alleging that while they engaged in verbal exchanges, Mr Kotodwe drew a sharp knife from a long pair of shorts he was wearing and threatened to stab him, while the others surrounding him.
The NPP activist indicated that he boldly moved forward and asked that he carried through his threat but Mr Kotodwe retreated with the knife he had firmly held in his hand, adding that he then heard a voice nearby, advising him not to get closer to Kotodwe or else he would stab him.
According to Mr Atta, as he made attempts to snatch the knife from Kotodwe, one member of the group by name Kofi Atta slapped him from behind and that as he turned to confront him, all the others pounced on him and beat him mercilessly before leaving him to his fate.
He mentioned those involved in the alleged assault as Malik, Salia and Kwabena Ananta, apart from Kotodwe and Atta Kofi, and that he later managed to make a report to the Sankore Police who gave him a medical form for treatment at the St. Elizabeth Hospital at Hwediem, where he spent the night under observation.
The deputy regional minister expressed shock at the incident, saying that he had himself asked the police to conduct investigations into the matter and that whoever was found culpable would face the law to serve as a deterrent.
He stressed that being his uncle, he bore Wofa Atta no grudge, and that it was only political ideology that separated them, adding further that during the thanksgiving service he had called for calm as he spoke to the whole congregation.
“I can’t seek refuge in politics and ask people to engage in criminal activities. I have got my job and I need to concentrate on it instead of fanning and secretly formenting trouble in the area because after all if I should lose my job, I will go back home to my own people”, Mr Opoku pointed out.
All attempts to get the Sankore police on phone about the incident was unsuccessful.