COMMANDER SHOT AT (PAGE 3, JAN 4, 2010)

Zakaria Alhassan, Tamale.

THE Tamale Metropolitan Police Commander, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Abanga Caeser received a bullet wound on his right thumb during a temporary riot by some agitated supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) at the Northern Regional Congress of the party 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 has however returned at the Radach Memorial Centre at Lamashegu, a suburb, where the congress is being held.
According to Mr. Caesar, the shooting incident occurred at around 11:30am 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 teargas to disperse the incensed supporters for calm to return after about fifteen minutes of disorder.
As at 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 is the chairmanship that is being competed for by six candidates including the incumbent, Alhassan Addow.
The others are Mr. 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 coordinator. The rest are 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 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, former MP for Yendi.
The Northern Regional Police Commander, ACP Angwubutoge Awuni led the police contingent at the congress.