CONTROVERSY still rages over the cause of injury to the two persons, including the Tamale Metropolitan Police Commander, Mr Abanga Caesar, at the Northern Regional delegates congress of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in Tamale last Sunday.
Medical reports on the victims are said to be inconclusive, according to hospital sources.
The condition of the other victim, Issahaku Walis, who is a member of the Tamale Polytechnic students wing of the NPP, is said to be serious. He is currently on admission at the Tamale Teaching Hospital, where he is receiving treatment.
The Police Commander, who was wounded on his right thumb, has, however, been treated and discharged.
Meanwhile, the five persons who were arrested in connection with the incident are reported to have been granted police inquiry bail awaiting prosecution.
According to the Northern Regional Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Ebenezer Tetteh, the suspects would face the full rigours of the law. Their names are being withheld for security reasons.
According to Mr Caesar, the shooting incident occurred at around 11:30 am after the police attempted to prevent some unaccredited persons from following one of the candidates vying for the chairmanship position of the party into the congress hall.
As the alleged intruders were forcing their way through the main entrance, confusion broke out and “suddenly there was a shot and subsequent sharp pain in my thumb,” Mr Caesar alleged.
The police had to fire canisters of tear gas to disperse the incensed supporters for calm to return after about 15 minutes of disorder. The gun allegedly used in the shooting has not yet been retrieved.
After calm had been restored, the congress came off successfully with the election of a 53-year-old Tamale-based contractor, Alhaji Harunah Sulemana aka Harumbis, as the new Northern Regional Chairman of the NPP.
Alhaji Harumbis polled 210 out of a total of 450 votes cast to beat his closest challenger, Mr Daniel Bugri Naabu, an Accra-based contractor, who secured 139 votes.
Apart from the incumbent Regional Secretary, Clifford Braimah Mahama, who retained his position by polling 244 votes, fresh persons were elected to manage the affairs of the NPP in the region for the next four years.
They include Alhaji Rashid Abdul Rahaman, youth organiser; Alhaji Hindu Abdullah, regional organiser; Hajia Amama Shaibu, women’s organiser, and Alhaji Abubakari Adam as the regional treasurer.
Alhaji Harumbis commended the delegates for the confidence reposed in him and promised to overhaul the party in the region to improve on its chances of winning the 2012 elections.
He appealed to party members, especially the youth, to be law-abiding by co-operating with security operatives in the region to maintain law and order particularly in Dagbon.
For his part, the General Secretary of the party, Nana Ohene Ntow, urged party members to consider the 2012 elections as the mother of all elections in Ghana and show more commitment by propagating the party’s ideals to the electorate.
He advised both victors and losers to consider the end result of the delegate’s congress as a victory for the party and for democracy.
Nana Ntow commended the police for ensuring maximum security before, during and after the congress and said “the NPP would continue to co-operate with security operatives in the country to make Ghana a safe place for all”.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Monday, January 4, 2010
COMMANDER SHOT AT NPP NR CONGRESS (PAGE 3, JAN 4)
THE Tamale Metropolitan Police Commander, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Abanga Caesar, received a bullet wound on his right thumb during rioting by some agitated supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) at their Northern Regional Congress in Tamale on Sunday.
The victim, who was rushed to the Tamale Teaching Hospital, has since been treated and discharged.
Five persons have so far been arrested in connection with the incident to assist the police in their investigations. Calm, however, returned was restored to the Radach Memorial Centre at Lamashegu, a suburb of Tamale, where the congress was held.
According to Mr Caesar, the shooting incident occurred at around 11:30 a.m. after the police attempted to prevent some unaccredited persons from following one of the candidates vying for the chairmanship position of the party into the venue for the congress.
As the alleged intruders were forcing their way through the main entrance, confusion broke out and “suddenly there was a shot and subsequent sharp pain in my thumb,” Mr Caesar alleged.
The police had to fire canisters of tear gas to disperse the incensed supporters for calm to return after about 15 minutes of disorder.
As of the time of filing this report, the candidates vying for the various positions of the party were being introduced to the delegates. The hotly contested position was the chairmanship that was being competed for by six candidates, including the incumbent, Alhassan Addow.
The others were Mr Daniel Bugre Naabu, an Accra-based building contractor; Alhaji Mugisu Siibawey of the Ghana Health Service and Alhaji Alhassan Mahmud, the immediate past Northern Regional NADMO Co-ordinator.
The rest were Alhaji Haroona Tia Sulemana, a Tamale-based building contractor, and Na-Vugu Joseph Nongre of the office of the former Chief of Staff.
Among the national executive members of the party who were present at the congress to witness proceedings were Nana Ohene Ntow, the General Secretary of the NPP; Mr Lord Commey, National Organiser; Madam Rita Asobayeri, National Women’s Organiser, and Alhaji Malik Yakubu Alhassan, a former MP for Yendi.
The Northern Regional Police Commander, ACP A. Awuni, led the police contingent at the congress.
The victim, who was rushed to the Tamale Teaching Hospital, has since been treated and discharged.
Five persons have so far been arrested in connection with the incident to assist the police in their investigations. Calm, however, returned was restored to the Radach Memorial Centre at Lamashegu, a suburb of Tamale, where the congress was held.
According to Mr Caesar, the shooting incident occurred at around 11:30 a.m. after the police attempted to prevent some unaccredited persons from following one of the candidates vying for the chairmanship position of the party into the venue for the congress.
As the alleged intruders were forcing their way through the main entrance, confusion broke out and “suddenly there was a shot and subsequent sharp pain in my thumb,” Mr Caesar alleged.
The police had to fire canisters of tear gas to disperse the incensed supporters for calm to return after about 15 minutes of disorder.
As of the time of filing this report, the candidates vying for the various positions of the party were being introduced to the delegates. The hotly contested position was the chairmanship that was being competed for by six candidates, including the incumbent, Alhassan Addow.
The others were Mr Daniel Bugre Naabu, an Accra-based building contractor; Alhaji Mugisu Siibawey of the Ghana Health Service and Alhaji Alhassan Mahmud, the immediate past Northern Regional NADMO Co-ordinator.
The rest were Alhaji Haroona Tia Sulemana, a Tamale-based building contractor, and Na-Vugu Joseph Nongre of the office of the former Chief of Staff.
Among the national executive members of the party who were present at the congress to witness proceedings were Nana Ohene Ntow, the General Secretary of the NPP; Mr Lord Commey, National Organiser; Madam Rita Asobayeri, National Women’s Organiser, and Alhaji Malik Yakubu Alhassan, a former MP for Yendi.
The Northern Regional Police Commander, ACP A. Awuni, led the police contingent at the congress.
Friday, January 1, 2010
TAMALE RESIDENTS MARK BUGUM FESTIVAL (SPREAD, DEC 30)
Residents of Tamale last Sunday poured onto the streets at night in their hundreds to mark the traditional Bugum (Fire) Festival which signifies the beginning of the lunar year.
Revellers went on a peaceful procession through the principal streets of the metropolis. Some of them were joined by foreign tourists, while a combined team of military and police personnel detailed to ensure order could not help but join in the intricate steps of the revellers, amidst the firing of musketry and the display of fireworks.
There was no reported incident of violence or injury, as the carnival progressed peacefully into the early hours of Monday.
The revellers, majority of whom were young ladies, went in a procession along the streets, with babies strapped to the backs of some nursing mothers.
With lighted torches, they sang and danced to both war and profane songs.
With machetes raised above their sweaty bodies and talismans and cow tails dangling on their arms and waists, the ecstatic men and women danced energetically deep into the night.
Some residents expressed satisfaction with the successful organisation of this year's event. Others also suggested the need to project the festival in the future to attract more tourists from within and outside the country to savour one of the oldest and most cherished traditions of the people.
Dagombas and other ethnic groups in the north mostly celebrate it on the 10th day of the new lunar month.
It is believed to mark the edict of a prominent Dagomba chief who, in tracing his lost son after dusk, ordered the lighting of torches, which eventually led to the discovery of the son.
It is also celebrated for its Islamic religious significance.
In the modern commemoration of the festival however, the revellers dispose of their torches at a thicket, while knowledgeable Mallams later reveal the events that are likely to occur in the New Year to chiefs who, in turn, announce the findings to the people.
The festival was, however, not observed in Yendi and its surrounding communities following a ban by the Northern Regional Security Council (REGSEC) for security reasons.
Revellers went on a peaceful procession through the principal streets of the metropolis. Some of them were joined by foreign tourists, while a combined team of military and police personnel detailed to ensure order could not help but join in the intricate steps of the revellers, amidst the firing of musketry and the display of fireworks.
There was no reported incident of violence or injury, as the carnival progressed peacefully into the early hours of Monday.
The revellers, majority of whom were young ladies, went in a procession along the streets, with babies strapped to the backs of some nursing mothers.
With lighted torches, they sang and danced to both war and profane songs.
With machetes raised above their sweaty bodies and talismans and cow tails dangling on their arms and waists, the ecstatic men and women danced energetically deep into the night.
Some residents expressed satisfaction with the successful organisation of this year's event. Others also suggested the need to project the festival in the future to attract more tourists from within and outside the country to savour one of the oldest and most cherished traditions of the people.
Dagombas and other ethnic groups in the north mostly celebrate it on the 10th day of the new lunar month.
It is believed to mark the edict of a prominent Dagomba chief who, in tracing his lost son after dusk, ordered the lighting of torches, which eventually led to the discovery of the son.
It is also celebrated for its Islamic religious significance.
In the modern commemoration of the festival however, the revellers dispose of their torches at a thicket, while knowledgeable Mallams later reveal the events that are likely to occur in the New Year to chiefs who, in turn, announce the findings to the people.
The festival was, however, not observed in Yendi and its surrounding communities following a ban by the Northern Regional Security Council (REGSEC) for security reasons.
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