Battered assemblymembers fighting for life in Hospital

Kukuom (B/A) May 5, GNA - Three Assembly members of Asunafo South District Assembly in Brong-Ahafo are reported to be on admission and in bad shape at the Goaso government Hospital following an attack by some thugs on Tuesday at Kukuom. The attack was deemed to have been linked to the confirmation of Mr. Atta Bosompim, the President's nominee for District Chief Executive (DCE). The victims; Mary Opoku Mensah, Stephen Akowuah and Abdulai Donkor, were among the 14 of the 40-member Assembly perceived to be sympathizers of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), who had voted against the nominee. The exercise was also to elect a Presiding member for the Assembly. It ended up in a pandemonium. At the time Ghana News Agency (GNA) was filing this report, Donkor, one of the victims, was said to have slipped into coma. The exercise was conducted and supervised by officials of the regional office of the Electoral Commission (EC) amidst heavy police presence. Briefing the GNA about the incident in Sunyani, Mr. Francis Anane, Asunafo South financial committee chairman of the NPP, said the election of a Presiding member and confirmation of the President's nominee was scheduled to be held on Wednesday. He said when all was set for the election the Assembly Members were told that the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) had sent a letter directing the Assembly to postpone the election of the Presiding Member. Mr. Anane said the RCC's directive did not go down well with some Assembly members but they all later agreed to a new date. He said after the election, the nominee obtained 25 votes, which did not meet the two-third requirement for his confirmation. Mr. Anane alleged that not satisfied with the result, which was approved by the EC officials, the nominee and Mr. Eric Opoku, deputy regional minister allegedly ordered some hired thugs to 93roughen up" the 14 Assembly Members, who included the four victims. He said in the melee, most of the Assembly Members sustained various degrees of injury whilst others fled for their dear lives. Mr. Anane added there was an uneasy calm at Kukuom following the incident and appealed for adequate security presence.