Sunyani Police halts NPP demonstration

Supporters and sympathisers of Mr George Kumi, a Parliamentary aspirant of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Sunyani East Constituency were on Tuesday dispersed by the Sunyani Municipal Police for demonstrating without police notification.

The demonstrators, wearing red bands and bearing the image of Mr Kumi, were holding placards expressing their displeasure at the ambassador’s loss by a single vote in the NPP constituency primary on Saturday, June 13.

They claimed the results as announced by the Municipal Electoral Officer, Mr Yaw Opoku could not be the true reflections of the election outcome and were, therefore, calling for recount of the votes.

Mr Emmanuel Ayamba, Campaign Secretary of Mr Kumi, led the demonstrators to assemble at the Oti Yeboah Guest House (formerly Catering Rest House) but the Police prevented them from pursuing their course.

Chief Superintendent Samuel Yankey, the Municipal Police Commander, said the leadership of the demonstrators did not notify the Police of their intention.

He urged them follow the right procedure for approval before embarking on such an action in future to maintain peace and order.

Mr Kumi, a former Ambassador to Libya and also High Commissioner to Nigeria in the President John Agyekum Kufuor’s administration, had 387 votes while the incumbent Parliamentarian, Mr Kwasi Ameyaw-Cheremeh who was declared the winner had 388 votes in the keenly contested election.