THE WINNER of the much-talked-about Ashanti Regional Council of State election could not be declared as a group of blood-thirsty goons disrupted the polls at the last minute on Tuesday.
The stoutly-built men, who are alleged to be staunch supporters of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Obuasi, virtually destroyed everything on sight including ballot papers and boxes.
In all twelve people contested in the polls, but bookmakers predicted a two-horse race between Yaw Obimpeh, a former Ashanti Regional NDC chairman and Nana Nkansah Boadu Ayeboafo, Agric Nzemahene Chief.
Interestingly, the 86 people, who had the voting rights, had successfully casted their ballots peacefully and the Electoral Commission (EC) officials were sorting the ballot papers when the goons struck.
According to reports, the machomen realized that the election was not going in favour of their preferred candidate, Yaw Obimpeh, hence their decision of causing trouble and disrupting their entire electoral process.
The machomen, who were dressed in civilian clothes, were seen throwing away tables, breaking ballot boxes and tearing ballot papers into pieces as they went on rampage right in the presence of helpless policemen.
The goons, who had a field’s day, at a point, were seen dangerously chasing away the electorates, journalists and even security personnel as they vowed not to allow the EC to declare the winner of the election.
Scores of people, who had assembled at the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) in Kumasi, the venue of the election, were seen running helter-skelter to save their lives, which was clearly in great danger.
In the end, the EC officials present could not declare the winner of the important election as planned, leaving the 12 contestants, who had used several weeks to campaign for votes, very disappointed.
Reports making rounds indicated that the EC in the Ashanti Region would officially write a report about the nasty incident to their superiors in the national capital of Accra for their advice on what to do next.
REGSEC meeting
Meanwhile, the weird action of the NDC hoodlums was said to have forced the Ashanti Regional Security Council (REGSEC) to summon an emergency meeting right on Tuesday to decide on the issue.
Police hunts for culprits
In a related development, there are reports that the police have started a serious manhunt to apprehend the culprits, who disrupted the electoral process, to help assist their in their investigations.
BY I.F. Joe Awuah
Kumasi
