A protest organized by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) turned chaotic after demonstrators clashed with police near the Ashanti Regional Electoral Commission (EC) office on Tuesday.
The protest, which began peacefully, escalated when the group approached the EC office. About 50 meters from the office, police blocked the path of the protesters. However, the crowd overpowered the police barricade, forcing officers to respond by firing two warning shots and releasing tear gas.
The gunshots, intended to disperse the crowd, instead provoked anger among the protesters. Some NDC supporters, incensed by the police’s actions, retaliated by attacking officers. The situation quickly spiraled into violence, disrupting what had initially been a peaceful demonstration.
During the confrontation, one NDC supporter was assaulted and arrested by the police, and one or two people sustained minor head injuries.
As of now, calm has been restored at the scene, with the police maintaining control over the area. The man arrested by the police has since been released.
In an incident without clear provocation, a police officer slapped the NDC regional chairman, Augustus Andrews Nana Akwasi. Official complaints regarding the identity of the officer have been submitted to the regional command, requesting accountability for the officer’s unprofessional conduct.
Later, following the incident, the NDC, led by the regional chairman, national organizer Joseph Yammin, and regional secretary Dr. Frank Amoakohene, presented their petition to the regional director of the EC, Francis Osei-Nsiah, and his staff in the EC conference room.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM/Isaac Bediako