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General News of Monday, 22 October 2012

Source: Daily Guide

NPP activists bathed with acid

The preview of the December polls is getting murker within the Techiman North and South Constituencies of the Brong Ahafo Region as some New Patriotic Party (NPP) stalwarts have been put on a hit list by their political opponents.

One of such targets, Peter Mensah, the Techiman North Constituency Organizing Secretary and host of a programme dubbed 'NPP Hour' on Techiman-based Classic FM, was bathed with acid.

Mensah escaped an attempt on his life by some unknown assailants believed to be members of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Saturday.

Hospital authorities disclosed that Mensah, who sustained various degrees of burns, was in a critical condition.

Peter Boahen, an NPP member, also sustained burns, alongside Mensah, after large volumes of some liquid suspected to be acid was poured on them by their assailants.

The rationale of the perpetrators of the act currently on the run, is still unknown.

Speaking to Daily Guide at the Holy Family Hospital where the two victims sought first aid, Mensah disclosed that he attended a peace programme at the Methodist Church at Techiman on behalf of the Member of Parliament (MP) for Techiman North, Professor Christopher Ameyaw Akumfi.

The programme, according to him, was aimed at fostering peace and cohesion among the various political parties and contestants before, during and after the elections.

A few moments to the end of the programme at about 7 p m., they noticed that they were being stalked by two unidentified persons on an unregistered motorbike.

He thought the rider and his pillion rider, perhaps, were travellers and so rode straight to the driver's door.

The pillion rider, carrying the liquid substance in a gallon, poured it on him and the motorbike sped off.

Mensah told Daily Guide that because of the burning sensation of the liquid, he took off his clothes.

Boahen took over the steering wheel and drove to the Holy Family Hospital where they were both given first aid and referred to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi.

Mr. Mensah disclosed that he was certain some politicians from the opposing side hatched a plan to kill him.

He is yet to officially lodge a complaint to the police.

NPP members within the area expressed concern over their security within the municipality following the latest attacks on their leaders.

They therefore called on the security agencies to step up measures to guarantee their safety.