Political violence in Ghana's capital

By Kwaku Sakyi-Addo in Accra

At least eight people were seriously injured in Accra on Sunday night, following a violent clash between supporters of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the main opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP).

Most of the injured received cutlass wounds during the attack, which took place at Alajo in the densely populated constituency of Ayawaso Central.

The NDC constituency offices were vandalised and there was blood on the walls and floors.

No arrests have been made as yet.

Armed police have been deployed in the area, which has high unemployment and consists of some of the poorest communities, a tinderbox for social and political trouble.

Conflicting stories

Accounts of what sparked the trouble differ from party to party.

According to one account, NDC supporters attacked NPP youths because they had taken offence at what some NPP officials had said about the governing party at an event organised by the Church of Pentecost for the two parties to discuss peace.

The Member of Parliament for the constituency, Sheikh Ibrahim C. Quaye of the NPP, said his NDC challenger, Amon Kotey, led an attacked on his house with stones and missiles.

The NDC presidential candidate is John Atta Mills

Glass windows were smashed and a resident injured in the leg.

"They were the ones who started it all," Mr Quaye said.

"They tore my posters and stoned my house."

However Mr Kotey denied the accusations in a radio interview on Tuesday morning and blamed the NPP for starting the violence.

He said the violence was unprovoked and pre-meditated.

A senior NDC official in the constituency, Said Sinare, said "Quaye is under pressure because he can see that he's going to lose the election.

"These people are full of violence; this weekend we're going to have a political rally and we're telling them that we don't want any violence."

Previous clashes

The violence comes in the heels of a similar incident at Berekum in the Brong-Ahafo region last week, and another in which a supporter of the People's National Convention (PNC) was stabbed to death allegedly by an NDC youth in the north of the country.

As concern increases over the potential for further clashes, President Jerry Rawlings has ordered the Inspector-General of Police, Peter Nanfuri, to submit a detailed plan of how he proposes to stem the violence.

Leading traditional chiefs are also due to meet in Accra on Wednesday with political party leaders to make a declaration for peace in the lead up to and after the elections.