NDC supporters tear down NPP billboards in Winneba

Political tensions in the Effutu Constituency have intensified after suspected National Democratic Congress (NDC) supporters destroyed campaign billboard belonging to  Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the Majority Leader and Member of Parliament for the area.

The Effutu Municipal Assembly had embarked on an exercise to remove several unauthorized signboards and billboards which had been put up in the area without the requisite permit and the exercise affected one campaign signboard belonging to the National Democratic Congress (NDC)

Angered by the fact that the Municipal Assembly has removed a campaign signboard belonging to the NDC, some angry persons who claimed to be supporters of the party went round to destroy two billboards of the NPP in what they described as retaliation.

The campaign billboards of the NPP that were destroyed included one located at Sankor Junction which had the photos of Afenyo-Markin and Vice Presient Mahamadu Bawumia, the flag-bearer of the NPP and another giant sized billboard at Unity Square which has the photo of Alenfy-Markin alone. They also destroyed a third one at the Winneba ‘Reconciliation’ Roundabout.

The NPP has not responded.

Social media has widely shared footage of the incident, showing the individuals believed to be NDC supporters tearing down the billboard of Hon. Afenyo-Markin, the incumbent New Patriotic Party (NPP) candidate.

According to eyewitnesses, they destroyed three billboards, including one that they tore down at the Winneba Roundabout, commonly known as the Reconciliation Roundabout.

Many view this as a direct response to the MCE’s earlier actions, with eyewitnesses stating that the removal of the NDC’s   billboard on the bases it was erected without permit, was interpreted as a provocation.

The situation has drawn attention to the rising tensions between the two dominant political parties, the NDC and the NPP, as both prepare for a fierce contest in the upcoming elections.

While there have been calls for calm and restraint from observers and local stakeholders, neither the NPP nor the NDC has officially addressed the incident or the overall atmosphere of hostility.

The destruction of the billboards has become a symbol of the broader political rivalry, emphasizing the urgent need for dialogue and peaceful resolutions in the run-up to the election, where both the NDC and NPP will be vying for control of key parliamentary seats and the presidency.