A violent clash erupted between supporters of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) over the placement of a billboard in the Ablekuma North Constituency of the Greater Accra Region.
The incident occurred at Dansoman Junction, where NDC Parliamentary Candidate Ewurabena Aubynn had erected a large billboard to appeal to voters.
The NPP’s candidate, Nana Akua Owusu Afriyieh, then mounted her own billboard in front of Aubynn’s, obstructing its visibility.
The situation escalated when pictures of the billboards went viral on social media, prompting the NDC Constituency Chairman to hold a press conference.
At the press conference, he warned the NPP against any attempts to intimidate them in the run-up to the December 7 elections.
The simmering tension between the two party supporters culminated in a violent confrontation on the evening of Thursday, July 25, 2024.
The clash brought traffic on the Kaneshie to Mallam Junction highway to a standstill. Supporters from both parties wielded cudgels, clubs, and machetes, fighting over who had the right to place their billboard first.
Paa Kwesi PK of Accra 100.5 FM’s sports desk witnessed the incident and reported on the station’s evening news bulletin that the situation had become chaotic, with supporters of both parties attacking each other.
He noted that the violence was severe, and it was only after the police, along with some good Samaritans, intervened that calm was restored to the area.
Meanwhile, on the Ghana Yensom morning show co-hosted by Odehyeeba Kofi Essuman and Otafrgya Kaayire Kwesi Appea-Apreku on Accra 100. 5 FM on Friday July 26, 2024, Mr Robert Agbezah, the NDC Ward Chairman for Kwashibu Electoral Area in Ablekuma Noth expressed some concerns about the rate at which NDC’s billboard are being blocked by the NPP.
He said the matter travelled to the Odorkor Divisional Police command with the support of the Municipal Chief Executive for the area.