Some leading members of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) attempted to fight at a funeral event in Kumasi on Sunday.
Reportedly, the unpleasant incident happened on the dais where top dignitaries, including former President John Dramani Mahama and others were seated at the Central Mosque in Kumasi.
The occasion was the final funeral rites of the late Gonja Chief of Kumasi, Alhaji Abdulai Mumin Ayayie, who passed away recently due to sickness. He was bedridden prior to his death.
Scores of military men that were brought to the venue of the funeral to provide security did a yeoman job as they rose to the occasion by using their strength to separate the two feuding factions.
The funeral ceremony of the late chief was going on peacefully until it reached the turn of Alidu Seidu, the MCE for Asokore Mampong, to announce the NPPs donation to the bereaved family.
The horde of NDC supporters that were present at the funeral venue quickly started to make excessive noise, which prevented Alidu Seidu from delivering his address to the chagrin of the NPP delegation.
The NDC supporters, who had then turned the funeral into a political rally started to chant in the Hausa language that hardship was swallowing Ghana so ex-President Mahama should come and save them.
The chanting of Mr. Mahama’s name by the NDC supporters continued for some minutes as Alidu Seidu, who was then holding one of the microphones, watched them from the dais helplessly.
At a point, the weird behaviour of the NDC supporters got Alhaji Abouba, the Manhyia South Organizer of the NPP infuriated, so he (Abouba) rushed to the dais to personally restore order.
Alhaji Abouba then tried in vain to snatch another microphone, which was in the hands of the MP for Asawase, Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka, who was also standing on the other side of the dais.
Alhaji Abouba, who was then brimming with rage, was then seen exchanging hot words with the NDC Asawase lawmaker right in the presence of ex-President Mahama and other dignitaries.
Right from that point, supporters of the NDC and NPP, who clearly were angry, were also seen pushing each other amid threats from both groups as Mr. Mahama and the other dignitaries watched.
Sensing danger, the military men quickly rushed and used their amazing energy and strength to separate the then angry-looking NDC and NPP supporters, thereby restoring sanity and orderliness to the place.
Speaking with DAILY GUIDE later on, Alhaji Abouba, the Manhyia South NPP Organizer, alleged that Mubarak Muntaka was the one who instigated the NDC supporters to cause troubles at the event.
When calm was eventually restored by the soldiers, Mr. Mahama and his delegation left the funeral grounds. The NPP delegation then got the chance to deliver their message.
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