Amanda Kwatia Okyere, NDC parliamentary candidate for Suhum
The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), led by it’s parliamentary candidate for Suhum, Amanda Kwatia Okyere, last Friday nearly marred the celebration of this year’s Eid-Adha at Suhum Central Mosque. The potential nasty situation was salvaged by the peaceful conduct of members of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP).
The NDC, in a desperate attempt to cause distraction, blocked members of the NPP, led by its parliamentary candidatwe, Oboafo Kwadjo Asante, from entering the premises of the mosque.
A heavily built man in the NDC, who was part of the group that blocked the main road leading to the mosque, was seen warning volunteers who were directing traffic flow in an alternative route the NPP members used not to allow their convoy to pass.
After several hours of a tussle, leaders of the Muslim community in the area intervened to get the NPP the opportunity to pass.
However, matters became worse when the NDC candidate opted not to speak at the event until her NPP counterpart had spoken.
Her action, which went against the laid down plans and the printed programme outline for the event, started another controversy at the prayer grounds, delaying the service for several hours.
Infuriated by her actions, some of the congregants, led by the Municipal Chief Imam, after the prayer session, decided to leave the venue.
Some of the angry congregants, in an interview with the Daily Statesman, expressed fury at the action of Ms Okyere.
Meanwhile, the leadership of the Muslim community, embarrassed by the turn of event, pleaded with the Municipal Chief Executive and the NPP candidate to deliver their messages first in order to bring peace to the prayer grounds.
The few who remained to listen to the speeches quickly left the grounds after listening to the MCE and the NPP candidate.
Peaceful character
The NPP parliamentary candidate, Mr Asante, pleaded with the congregants to emulate the peaceful character of the founder of the Muslim faith, Prophet Mohammed (PBUH), urging them to desist from any acts of violence ahead of this year’s general election.
He also advised the youth not to allow themselves to be used by politicians to cause mayhem, but rather take advantage of the many positive policies implemented by the Akufo-Addo government to change their lives.
