Incensed Youth of the National Democratic Congress in Effiduase in the Sekyere East District of the Ashanti Region on Wednesday September 8, nearly assaulted their DCE and the Ashanti Regional Minister, Hon. Kofi Opoku Manu.

The Youth of Effiduase Zongo who accused the DCE of non-performance and disrespect for members of the NDC were infuriated over what they claim was a neglect of their polling stations in an award ceremony organized by the party to reward some polling stations executives.

A Spokesperson for the Group, Sefianse Mohammed told Citi FM that the Regional Executives and the DCE have been sidelining them in several development projects and other party events, because they have objected to his leadership style.

“Already we have a problem with our DCE. He is not taking care of the youth, the party’s issues are not his concern, and he doesn’t entertain party members.

When party members go to his office or home, he turns them away. But the party has no office in the district.

He said the DCE, Kwadwo Addai faced stiff opposition after his appointment, but they (the youth) fought and stood behind him, thinking he would reciprocate their kind gesture, but has rather chosen to sideline them.

According to him, they were angered because polling stations in their communities had not been invited for the awards ceremony organized under the auspices of the Regional Minister, DCE and party executives.
 
The Constituency Chairman for Effiduase-Asokore, William Brobbey has however denied the claim.

He told Citi News all polling stations had been invited for the event but out of the 62, only 58 attended.

He said the Effiduase and Asokore Zongo communities in particular, decided to boycott the event because they are against the DCE.

He described as untrue claims that those communities had been sidelined and stated that members of those polling stations, have often benefited from several goodies from the party.

Mr. William Brobbey said but for the intervention of the police, Wednesday’s incident could have been bloody as the youth were bent on causing havoc to him and the DCE in particular.

“The Police had to fire gunshots to disperse them and it took us about 45 minutes before we could enter the hotel for the programme” he said.

A Reporter for a local Radio station in Kumasi is reported to have been hospitalized following beatings by rampaging youth, an allegation that has been denied by the Youth Group’s Spokesperson Sefiance Mohammed.

He explained to Citi News that the said young man is a member of the NPP who attempted taking pictures of the rioting scene and was prevented by the youth.

Meanwhile, the Ashanti Regional Minister, Hon. Kofi Opoku Manu appears to have jumped to the defense of the youth.

 He told Eyewitness News that the incident could not be described as an attack although gunshots were fired by the police.

 “There were some disturbances but not an attack. Nobody came to me to physically frighten or assault me. They attempted to take part in a meeting we were having with their executives but the Police stopped them and that’s where the trouble started but later, normalcy returned" he said.

Although he admits some of the concerns being raised by the youth were petty, he said the Party will take steps to address their concerns at a new meeting to be held with the group.

He said issues about lack of jobs were not new and that it would take government some more time to meet all their demands.

“We want to tell them that the party and government cares for them and will do well to satisfy their demands” he said.

Police have not made any arrest following the incident. 
 
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