Azorka Boys Are Intimidating Atiwa Electorate – Sir John

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) is alleging the presence of Azorka Boys in the Atiwa by-elections in the Eastern Region. The opposition party claims the Azorka boys are intimidating the electorate and exhibiting unruly behaviour in the constituency.

Voting is taking place is 113 polling centers in Atiwa.

NPP General Secretary Lawyer Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie aka Sir John who voiced out the accusations further claimed that the Azorka boys had in their possession knives and other harmful objects.

The Azorka Boys, a group of young men said to be part of a notorious gang in the Northern Region, have been accused on several occasions of being behind the frequent acts of intimidation of NPP supporters especially during elections.

“…they (Azorka Boys) are in 10 vehicles moving around and intimidating people,” he claimed.

But the Deputy Eastern Regional Minister, Baba Jamal, has denied the allegations saying they are a figment of Sir John’s imagination.

“…I’m surprised at what Sir John is saying because there are no such boys around,” he stated.

The former NDC Deputy General Secretary derisively opined that since the NPP’s National Organiser, Moctar Bamba reportedly said he will be bringing his “boys” to the area, perhaps it was the “Bamba boys that Sir John saw.”

“If there is evidence that someone has done or is doing something wrong, the police should be called to effect the arrest of that person instead of just bandying it about on-air,” he added.

Meanwhile, voting is said to be progressing steadily in Atiwa with few hitches at some polling stations. Security personnel overseeing the Atiwa by-election arrested two men in the Kwaben area this afternoon, who were seen riding an unlicensed motor bike. The Eastern Regional Police Command says it has dispatched ample men to ensure maximum security for the day’s polls.

Inhabitants of the constituency are voting to elect an MP to replace the Late Kwasi Ankamah who died on July 1 2010.

Four candidates are contesting the Atiwa seat. They are the PNC’s Kalsoum Abdul Kareem, who occupies the top of the ballot paper, New Vision Party’s Apraku Padmore second with Emmanuel Atta Twum of the NDC and the NPP’s Kwasi Amoako Atta occupying the third and fourth position respectively.

Source: Rebecca Quaye/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Institute of Journalism