The communication director of the governing New Patriotic Party in Savelugu/Nanton municipality, Mr Abubakari Sadik, has backed the violent action of the youth of the party over the appointment of Hajia Ayishetu Seidu as municipal chief executive.
Mr Sadik, who confirmed the burning of used lorry tires and party billboards to protest the appointment, said the angry youth have legitimate concerns but the approach in channeling their grievances was wrong.
The NPP mouthpiece told Zaa News the leadership of the party met the northern regional minister Mr Salifu Saeed and his deputy, Mr Solomon Namliit Boar and asked them to persuade the youth not to engage in violence should the president announcement of municipal and district chiefs executives not go down well with them.
However 24 hours after the president had made public the names of 212 MDCEs, aggrieved youth of the party in Savelugu took to the streets of the municipality amidst threat of more showdown should the president refuse to rescind his decision.
The Savelugu youth were the first to openly register their protest, other party supporters in the Tolon and Sagnarigu districts also vowed not to accept the the president’s nominees.
What is clear from these violent demonstrations is that they are inexplicably directed against women appointees in the region.
Hajia Amama Sayibu-DCE nominee for Tolon, Hajia Ayishetu Seidu-MCE for Savelugu and Ms Mariama Iddrisu -DCE nominee for Sagnarigu are the three women nominated by the president.
Rationalizing their action, the rampaging youth say they are not against the appointees because they are women but because the appointees lack the political capacity to execute the NPP mandate; they also insisted Hajia Ayishetu was not a native of the area and has little knowledge in the municipality.
11 arrested in Sagnarigu
Meanwhile, police in the northern region have arrested 11 persons suspected to be members of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) over the destruction of some party properties.
The arrest follows information minister Mustapha Hamid pronouncements that the police should deal with anyone who engages in violent acts over the release of some 212 Municipal and District Chief Executives.
ACP Mr Patrick Adusei Sarpong, the northern regional police commander, who confirmed the arrest said the suspects have been granted bail and will be arraigned before court.