Broken skulls and bones characterised a funeral service in Suhum in the Eastern Region on Saturday when a brawl broke out between members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
The protagonists are reported to be from opposing camps within the ruling party. A section is said to be loyal to Vice President Mahamudu Bawumiah who is reportedly being prepped by President Akufo Ado as his successor.
The other side of the warring parties is said to be loyal to Trade Minister, Alan Kwadwo Kyeremanteng, who is said to be the next presidential hopeful for the NPP.
In the ensuing pandemonium, the head of the party’s Lower West Akyem Communications Officer, Bernard Kwesi Amoani, was allegedly slashed with a cutlass on his forehead by one “Jamalo”, the driver of Kwadwo Asante, the Suhum Member of Parliament.
Another victim, Alexander Odei, also sustained injuries on his lips the party apparatchiks turned the funeral grounds into a murderous atmosphere.
According to an eyewitness, the violent attacks happened at the funeral grounds of the late father of one of the party’s communicators known as Opare.
Other reports say the deep underlying rivalry in the ruling party was triggered by aspersions flung around between supporters of the MP and a Presidential staffer, Frank Asiedu Bekoe, popularly known as Protozoa.
Protozoa is reportedly seeking to contest the MP for his seat in the party’s next primaries. But the two are believed to be from the opposing divide of Bawumia and Kyeremanteng.
The fight was an exhibition of the disturbing trend where members of the ruling NPP hijack funerals to mount a heated campaign for Bawumia and Kyeremanteng.
The trends had gotten to a point where the party’s National Organiser, Sammy Awuku, recently communicated the contention of the NPP, national executives about the growing insensitive trend.
According to reports gathered by Whatsup News, one of the followers of the Presidential staffer, popularly known as Big Deal, allegedly snatched a microphone at the funeral to announce that his group had been prevented from greeting the MP.
This announcement reportedly set off the chain reaction of violence. Videos seen by Whatsup News show mourners running helter-skelter from the onslaught between the party supporters.
In one scene, Jamalo was seen wielding a weapon looking like a cutlass and brought it down on the head of the Kwesi Amoani.
The victim has been rushed to the Suhum Government Hospital, where he was reportedly receiving treatment.
Meanwhile, the Police claim it has launched an investigation into the incident.
The Eastern Regional Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ebenezer Tetteh told the media that the Police was already closing in on the suspects.
“The Suhum Police Command is investigating a case of causing harm that ensued yesterday, Saturday, August 28, 2021, around 5 pm,” said DSP Tetteh.
“Whiles the members of the NPP in the Suhum constituency were mourning a colleague at the Suhum Council, a misunderstanding ensued between some party communicators and the followers of the MP, and in the process one Jamal inflicted a deep knife wound on the head of the victim, one Kwasi Amoani 51, and the matter was reported to the police and the complaint was subsequently taken to the Suhum Government Hospital where he is responding to treatment at the emergency ward.”
Source: whatsupnewsghana