Uneasy calm at Savelugu as NPP youth bent on stopping MCE

Some supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Savelugu/Nanton Municipal Assembly on Thursday locked up the entrance to the Assembly to prevent the new Municipal Chief Executive Hajia Ayishetu Seidu entry to her office. Hajia Ayishetu Seidu was making her first official visit after being confirmed and sworn into office exactly one month ago, following a fiercely resisted nomination by party members. The party supporters claim the MCE is not a registered voter in any of the two constituencies in the municipality. Other reasons are that the MCE is not actively participating in any events of the NPP in the two constituencies but “bribed” her way through nomination. They say the NPP cannot work with an “alien” whom they say “does not have an idea of how they worked to win the parliamentary seat”. However, May 13 witnessed a new twist as she was massively confirmed by presiding members in the two constituencies namely the Nanton and Savelugu constituencies, garnering 50 out of the total votes of 64. But Thursday’s unwelcome visit by the youth is the second this week as the youth had already stormed the office on Monday, demanding the resignation of the MCE or face their wrath. The leader of the youth group, Zakaria  Karim, revealed the role of the youth at the Municipal Assembly. “We had information Wednesday that the Coordinating Director Mr Braimah Basintale was handing over to the MCE so we decided to go and stop that from happening since we have said we can’t accept her and will not work with her.” However, the arrival of police squad numbering about 50 from the Northern Regional Command witnessed the firing of live and rubber bullets at the protesters, who also pelted stones at the officers.

This followed a grand arrival of military officers in two armoured vehicles who added to crossfire. The police is yet to make any official comment on the development but editors.3news.com can confirm the return of calm in the area as the police-cum-military squad escorted the MCE to Tamale at the close of work on Thursday. By Zubaida Ismail|editors.3news.com|Savelugu, N/R|Ghana Follow @3Newsgh