The Member of Parliament (MP) for Odododiodoo, Nii Lante Vanderpuye has alleged that he was on Tuesday, January 28, 2020, assaulted by men affiliated to the governing New Patriotic Party.
This alleged attack led to a clash between some NPP supporters and National Democratic Congress (NDC) supporters in front of the Jamestown District Police Headquarters on Tuesday.
The incident allegedly took place during the commissioning ceremony of the rehabilitated Jamestown Ussher Polyclinic, an event graced by the First Lady.
Speaking to Citi News after lodging a complaint with police, he recounted that: “a group of hoodlums in NPP colours came out and said they will not allow me to enter the programme. I asked why? They said the programme was not for NDC. No NDC member would enter the programme.”
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The MP claimed the men who attacked him were armed with machetes and guns.
Aside from this, he said the police witnessed his assault but did nothing about it.
“When they were continuing with the agitation and the assault, they were hitting people. One hit my chest. Police officers were standing there looking at them… I was utterly shocked and Ghana Police Service and looked on unconcerned for people to assault a Member of Parliament and other people openly.”
Mr. Vanderpuye said he eventually left the scene after appeals from some elderly onlookers but warned that if nothing was done about his complaint, war drums would have been beaten “and we shall all dance to it.”
“If the people who are mandated by law to protect the people will not protect them, the people will protect themselves,” the MP added.
Responding to the claims, the NPP Communications Director for Odododiodoo, Malik Odenke Abbey, denied knowledge of any attack on Mr. Vanderpuye.
“I personally have been part the protocol of the event and I have not even heard a single hint of [the alleged attack]. So I don’t know where this allegation is coming from.”
He said it was ultimately an excuse to boycott the event “and deceive the people of Odododiodoo as to why they didn’t come” for the event.