Blows at NPP training workshop

Credible information available to the Daily Statesman indicates that there were exchange of blows between George Mireku Duker, the NPP Member of Parliament for the Tarkwa-Nsuem constituency, and Charles Bissue, the Western Regional Secretary of the party, at a training workshop for parliamentary candidates and regional executives on Monday, September 21.

Reports indicate that Mr Duker had his fingers ‘chewed’ by Mr Bissue when they accidentally entered the latter’s mouth.

But for swift intervention by some party members, blood would have freely flown at the conference room of Kingstel Hotel where the workshop took place.

This is the second time party members have resorted to fisticuffs at the hotel. The first incident involved supporters of Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, the Western Regional Minister and Member of Parliament for Takoradi, and Fred Kakraba Sam, a disqualified parliamentary aspirant.

The cause

According to a source, the fight between Mr Duker and Mr Bissue started when Peter Mac-Manu, NPP’s 2020 National Campaign Manager, asked all aggrieved members to air their grievances for amicable settlement before December 7.

Mr Duker, the source said, quickly got up and accused Mr Bissue of supporting an independent candidate in his constituency against him. The regional secretary was also accused of collecting bribe from the independent candidate, Joy Joycelyn Andoh, an NPP member who was disqualified from taking part in the Tarkwa-Nsuem constituency primaries.

Frosty relationship

In his defence, Mr Bissue said Mr Duker had, for some time now, been at loggerheads with him for refusing to engage in secret illegal mining activities with him following the ban by President Akufo-Addo.

The statement from the Regional Secretary, according to reports, is what started the exchange of blows.

Meanwhile, some party executives and members in the Tarkwa-Nsuem constituency are calling for the dismissal of the regional secretary who doubles as a presidential staffer.

They have also threatened to ruthlessly deal with him, should he visit their constituency.

However, those who issued the threat have since been picked up by the regional police command for questioning.

Source: dailystatesman.com.gh/Yaaba Yamikeh