On Friday, October 13, 2023, violence broke out during the screening of National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary candidates at the party’s Greater Accra Regional Office in South La. A reporter with Accra-based Citi FM was assaulted during this time.
Akosua Otchere, a journalist, was being treated at the hospital, according to a Facebook post from the media outlet.
“Our journalist Akosua Otchere was assaulted at the NDC’s Greater Accra Regional Office at South La during the vetting of some parliamentary aspirants for the Odododiodio constituency. She is currently safe and receiving treatment,” the statement reads.
The NDC has been interviewing candidates to replace Edwin Nii Lantey Vanderpuye, the current representative for the Odododiodio Constituency, who has declared he will not run for re-election.
Alfred Kotey Ashie, Michael Nii Yarboi Annan, and Emmanuel Nii Okai Laryea all appeared before the screening committee.
Members of one candidate’s camp attacked the vetting committee with rocks during the process, accusing them of being unfair, and destroyed party property, including chairs and an air conditioner.
The irate party members can be heard in the video saying, “NDC national executives are biased.”
What sparked the claims of bias against the NDC executives is unclear. The largest opposition party has not yet commented on the change.
Chaos at NDC South La Regional Office during the vetting of three parliamentary aspirants for the Odododiodio constituency, as the incumbent MP, Edwin Nii Lantey Vanderpuye, is out of the race.
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— CITI FM 97.3 (@Citi973) October 13, 2023
Meanwhile, the current MP, Edwin Nii Lantey Vanderpuye, has formally declared his exit from the race.
The election has been scheduled for October 31, 2023 as a result of this unexpected development, and three candidates have already filed their nominations to run for the parliamentary position.
These prospective candidates will go through a thorough vetting procedure on a specific date before the choice is made.
Since 2013, Nii Lantey Vanderpuye, who serves as the district’s Member of Parliament, has been a prominent figure in the political landscape of Odododiodio.
His journey started during the 2012 elections when he won an emphatic 63% of the vote.
