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.

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