By J K Nabary
Winneba (C/R), Sept 22, GNA – The Winneba Police Command had called on followers of the NPP and the NDC to see themselves as one people and not allow partisan politics to disturb the peace of the area.
ACP Jeffery Darko, Winneba District Divisional Police Commander gave the advice during an emergency meeting with executives of the two major political parties at Ateitu in the Effutu Municipality.
The meeting called at the instance of the Effutu Election Security Task Force, discussed recent pulling down of billboards and removal of posters of political parties in the Area.
ACP Darko who is also the Chairperson of the Taskforce, said the nefarious acts posed a threat to security in the Municipality and urged all to cool down tensions which was gradually mounting in Effutu Municipality.
The Committee further appealed to the executives to encourage their followers to embrace peace before during and after the December 7, general election.
He asked both Political Party representatives to ask their followers to stop the destruction of billboards and allow the Police to investigate the cases on the ground.
The NPP representatives led by their constituency Chairperson, Mr Joseph Nicholas Bondzie said investigation by the party revealed that it was the Effutu Assembly which destroyed the said billboards, and the matter was quickly reported the matter to the police.
He said the NDC should have approached the Assembly rather than taking the law into their own hands to destroy NPP billboards.
Mr kow Mensah Turkson, Chairperson of the NDC said the billboards of their Parliamentary Candidate was destroyed by the Effutu Municipal Assembly with claims that the PC had not honoured his tax obligation for some time after mounting the billboards in the Municipality.
According to him the Effutu Municipal Chief Executive, Alhaji Kassim Zubairu, led the unwarranted exercise with some NPP supporters after close of work and he reported the case to the police when their attention was drawn to it.
The NDC further alleged that the police personnel stood aloof when Dr James Kofi Annan’s billboards were destroyed but Mr Afenyo-Markin, the incumbent Effutu MP billboards were not touched, and therefore claimed the police was siding with the NPP.
The Chairperson of the Election Security Taskforce announced that the police were there to protect lives and property and that the story going round that the police was partial was untrue.
He again advised the executives of the two political parties to cooperate and assist the police with evidence to aid investigations.
After a lengthy deliberation on the matter, both sides agreed to do their best to resolve it for peace and cohesion to prevail.
GNA