Some eight people sustained machete wounds Thursday when supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and National Democratic Congress (NDC) clashed over who must control the Aboabo station lorry terminal in Kumasi.

The NPP supporters attacked and drove away operators of the terminal early this year, citing a similar takeover eight years ago but in a reprisal attack, several machete-wielding NDC youth today stormed the station to fight for space.

According to Joy News correspondent Erastus Asare Donkor, it has become a regular practice where supporters of the party which emerge victorious after every election demand control of the terminal and sack supporters of the losing party.

The victims were reported to have rushed to lodge a complaint with the police who came to the terminal to warn against any attacks. The police followed up with a heavy presence around the area. 

The police were called to the control the situation which was getting violent and they came over to invite the leaders of both parties to the police station. 

An hour later, the two supporters continued to trade insults which triggered another violence leading to the NPP supporters bringing machetes to injure the NDC supporters and some traders who were caught in the melee. 

The two sides clashed in the presence of armed police which resulted in one woman and seven men sustaining various degrees of injuries. The bloody scene had a man in his 30s having his wrist almost severed.

Leaders of both factions had been invited by the police but the followers stayed behind to fight for their space. 

One of the NDC supporters who spoke to Joy News said he was disappointed the police were standing by but did not help them when they were attacked but threatened to shoot them. 

According to the supporter of the NPP, they won't sit home and tell the President to find work for them when they would have jobs once they take over the bust station. 

Meanwhile, the Police say the standoff has Abudu and Andani undertones linked to the chieftaincy conflict in Yendi.

Regional Police Commander DCOP Ken Yeboah says they want the leaders to battle out ownership of the terminal in court.