The two major political parties going into the Talensi by-election have locked horns over who has the permit to organize a rally at the sought-after Tongo Township on Sunday.
The governing National Democratic Congress and the opposition New Patriotic Party are currently in a tussle over who first sent a letter to the police notifying the security agency of their respective major rallies.
The Talensi seat held by the NPP became vacant when the MP, Robert Mosore resigned after his enskinment as Tongo chief.
The July 7 by-election in Talensi is set to be fiercely contested between these major parties.
National Organiser of the NPP, John Boadu told Francis Abban on Joy FM’s Top Story Friday that the party earlier sent a letter to the police to seek permission to hold their rally at Tongo Township and followed up on Monday for confirmation.
According to him, the party met the police chief in the area in the presence of his public relations officer and the only party whose letter was found in a file meant for the political parties was that of the NPP.
In the absence of any other competing letter, the police cleared them for that important rally, John Boadu insisted.
Surprisingly, he said, the NPP was invited by the police today only to be told that the NDC had brought a letter ahead of theirs. The police explained that the NDC’s letter which John Boadu alleged is posted dated, July 19, was missing when the party met the police on Monday.
“It is becoming one too many…it is not fair” the national organiser asserted, insisting the party will go ahead with the rally regardless of what the police say.
“We have not broken any law,” he said indicating that the Public Order Act was followed by the party. “We need to be cautious of these things, I think that the police have not been helpful in this matter at all.”
But National Organiser of the NDC, Kofi Adams argued that as far back as June 18 the party’s operatives had met in the constituency, decided on activities for the by-election and communicated same to the police.
“It is not true that the NPP sent their letter long before us. On the 19th of June even before our rally we have already communicated to the police about our activities because we knew that we have very little time.”
Vote buying
Meanwhile, both parties are trading serious accusations of vote buying. They are also accusing each other of sharing goodies such as rice and fertilizer to woo voters.
Interestingly both parties have vehemently denied engaging in any of the actions they accused the other of engaging in.
The NDC and NPP have been the only two parties that have held the Talensi seat since 1992. The NDC has held the seat five time out of six.
