The flagbearer of the People’s National Convention (PNC),Hassan Ayariga, may be thanking his stars after narrowly escaping from the sharp claws of the goons of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) gathered at the forecourt of the State House, the venue for the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) Presidential debate in Accra last Wednesday.

The PNC presidential candidate, according to eye witness Emmanuel Wilson, had to be whisked away by seven policemen led by one Yakubu, to prevent a bloody physical attack on him by the NPP thugs including Samuel Abu-Jinapor, a Special Aide to Nana Akufo-Addo, Madam Frances Essiam, the NPP parliamentary candidate for Adentan Constituency and Lord Commey, ex-NPP National Organizer.

Shockingly, Akufo-Addo, himself, is said to have also attempted a physical attack on one of the moderators, Mr. Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, for not allowing him a rebuttal after he had given his closing remark. This is said to have charged his members into action.

Apart from the three, who also rained insults on Mr. Ayariga, Mr. Kwabena Agyepong, ex-Presidential Press Secretary, also attacked him for making Nana Akufo-Addo, the center stage of his presidential debate at the State Banquet Hall in Accra, last Wednesday.

Like ant,Hassan Ayariga last Wednesday entered the trunk of Nana Akufo-Addo and eventually knocked him out with some heavy jabs, moving ex-presidential press secretary to John Kufuor, into a near fight on Metro TV with PNC General Secretary, Bernard Mornah.

But for the tact applied by Mr. Paul Adom-Otchere host of Good Evening Ghana, Kwabena Agyepong, who used strong language on Mr. Ayariga, could have been beaten up by PNC general secretary, who took strong exceptions to Mr. Agyepong’s choice of words against Ayariga.

Meanwhile, the General Secretary of the NPP, Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, has also attacked Mr. Ayariga, calling him the most ‘blockheaded’ person on earth who had no equal in his league.

Other NPP members have also claimed Hassan Ayarigawas paid by the NDC to attack Nana Akufo-Addo . Mr. Emmanuel Wilson, who is the National Organizer of the PNC, confirmed the assault on the PNC leader saying the party flagbearer had to be whisked away by the seven security officers.

He told the Herald by phone that the attack was totally nauseating, particularly coming from notable people like Abu Jinapor and Lord Commey. Mr. Wilson could not confirm whether the policemen escorted the PNC leader home after the disgraceful assault.

Mr. Agyepong called Mr. Ayariga a complete joke and a comic relief, adding he was disappointed in the PNC for choosing a very unserious man as its flag bearer.

A very infuriated Mr. Agyepong, who attacked the IEA for bringing Hassan Ayariga to a ‘very serious platform’ was asked by Mr. Mornah to render an unqualified apology to the PNC flag bearer, but he refused and walked away while referring to the Deputy Minister of Sports, Dr. Omane Boamah, as an indiscipline man.