Videos/Photos: Several wounded in NDC, NPP bloody Jamestown melee
A violent clash between supporters of the two main political parties at Jamestown in the Odododiodoo constituency in Accra has left a number of people with serious injuries.
The cause of the melee is not immediately known but videos and pictures from the area showed destruction of property and bloody scenes on Sunday, October 25.
The youth involved in the incident were seen wearing shirts and clad in paraphernalia of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).
The incident occurred at a junction called One Way along the Atta Mills Highway close to the popular Deo Gratias Studio.
In one of the videos, dozens of the NDC supporters were gathered at one side of the street with their opponents on the other side and hurled stones, bottles and other projectiles at each other.
An eyewitness said six gunshots were fired at the scene.
Persons involved used crates of soft drinks as shield with another eyewitness describing the scene as similar to shots in a war movie.
A centre known as ‘Blue Gate’ used by mainly by the NPP in the constituency for meeting was destroyed in the process. The posters of NPP candidates were ripped off.
Chairs and other items were also smashed and left in ruins.
The injured had to be rushed to the Accident Centre of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital for treatment.
Some victims sustained cuts on the head, hands and thighs. Others could not walk and had to be put on a stretcher or aided by wheelchairs.
The constituency is known to be one of the hotspots notorious for electoral violence.
2016 violence
A supporter of the NDC, who is a lady, was stabbed, while several others from both parties sustained various degrees of injury.
The windscreen of at least two cars was also smashed.
The supporters had gathered at the Bukom Square to cheer on their respective candidates who were taking part in a parliamentary debate when tempers flared.
2012 chaos and Ursula assault
In 2012, leaders of the two major political parties had to hold a peace march to quench tensions in the area
Nii Lante Vanderpuye, a the parliamentary candidate of the NDC and Captain (retd) Victor Okaikoi, a parliamentary candidate of the NPP, agreed to the walk.
This was after the then aspiring parliamentary candidate of the NPP for Ablekuma South, Ms Ursula Owusu-Ekuful was attacked in the constituency leaving her with injuries.
An aide to the then flagbearer of the NPP, Samuel Abu Jinapor, was also not spared in the assault unleashed by some machomen in the area.
It was at a time the Electoral Commission (EC) was compiling a voter register in 2012 under the then chair, Kwadwo Afari-Djan.
They had gone for a tour in the area to encourage their supporters to register.
The then Greater Accra Regional Commander, DCOP Patrick Timbilla, had to intervene with his men to calm the tension.