The Chairman of the New Patriotic Party has dismissed allegations of intimidation leveled against his party by the ruling National Democratic Congress. Propaganda Secretary of the NDC, Richard Quashigah alleged his party members have been cowed by persistent attacks by thugs of the NPP few hours to the Atiwa by-election. He claims he was a victim of the incessant attacks, stressing that but for the intervention of the party chairman, he would have fled the Atiwa constituency. According to him, there are “rumours” the NPP is transporting thugs from the Ashanti Region to rain terror on members of the NDC in Atiwa. “Obviously it is the NPP that is intimidating the NDC and we already have information of an additional thugs being brought from Aboabo in the Ashanti Region to really augment the thugs they have on the ground that are already intimidating us. “I think that this is unfair; this is not good for democracy and the NPP from time and again is proving that this is their stock in trade,” he told Joy News’ Dzifa Bampoh. “…We have also had rumours, text messages that 300 more people are being transported from Abuabo to Atiwa,” he said, accusing the General Secretary of the NPP, Kwodwo Owusu Afriyie of being behind the busing of the thugs to the constituency. He said it was not strange at all that the ruling party is being intimidated, stressing the NDC has always been a liberal organization. In a reaction, the chairman of the NPP Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey said the allegations by the NDC propaganda Secretary are trumped-up. “Richard Quarshiega and the truth are strangers,” Jake Lamptey stated, adding the NDC always accuses the NPP of the things they (NDC) intend to do. He also accuses the NDC of breaching the security in the area ahead of the elections, alleging the NPP has uncovered some ammunition and electoral materials at a hotel occupied by NDC sympathizers in a hotel. They have since reported the case to the police, he said. He urged the NDC to leave the police alone to conduct their professional duties. The Atiwa by-election will be held Tuesday and will be contested by the PNC’s Kalsoum Abdul Kareem, New Vision Party’s Apraku Padmore, Emmanuel Atta Twum of the NDC and the NPP’s Kwasi Amoako Atta. Story by Nathan Gadugah/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana