The New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) appear to be on a collision course in the Bibiani-Anwiaso-Bekwai constituency in the Western Region, following allegation that the: District Chief Executive (DCE) for the area, Moses Kofi Armah had destroyed billboards belonging to the opposition party. NPP supporters are accusing the DCE of allegedly ordering the removal of billboards of the former and re-elected flag bearer of the party, Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo-Addo, and the, MP for the area Hon. Christopher Addae. The party has therefore; issued an ultimatum the DCE to as a matter of urgency replace the billboard or take the responsibility of any mishap that may arise upon failure to do so. Addressing a news conference at Bibiani last Friday the Member of Parliament for the Bibiani-Anwiaso-Bekwai constituency, Hon. Christopher Addae cautioned that if the DCE fails to bring back the billboards, The NPP would be left with no choice than to advise themselves, the ramifications of which the DCE will be solely and exclusively responsible. He noted that the NPP has for some time now managed to resist intimidations and harassments of its supporters in the Bibiani constituency in the general interest of peace and harmony, but according to him party could longer watch unconcerned while their rights and freedoms are being trampled upon by its opponents. According to him, the removal of the billboards was the only a violation of the law, but also an affront to dignity of the individuals involved. “Issues relating to political parties are so sensitive and emotive that specific enactments had been put in place to safeguard the sanctity of political party paraphernalia, including posters, billboards, leaflets and tampering with them is direct affront to the pride of the party and the people involved,” he stressed. Hon. Addae further noted –“the removal of billboards in itself is blatant violation of law and it was unilaterally done by the DCE without resort to the Executive Committee amounts to arbitrary use of power. According to him, his information indicates that the Hon. Kofi Armah is planning to contest the Bibiani seat in the 2012 elections, hence his decision to use any available means to make him unpopular. Hon. Addae however said even though he cannot debar the DCE from contesting the seat, the approach being adopted is highly unsavoury and has the tendency to open the flood gate for more political turmoil. He said if Hon. Kofi Armah cares to be guided by historical antecedents, he would realize that he is treading on a very dangerous path,” he charged adding – “Let me make it unequivocally clear to Hon. Moses Kofi Armah and his team of advisors that the NPP cannot be intimidated, the mighty imagined themselves invincible have fallen before me. Should he desire to go down memory lane, he would get to know about the exploits of the NPP in the constituency, he may be too young to know how in opposition the NPP stormed Tanoso in 1996 when we had been warned not to enter the town." "If Hon. Armah is testing the waters, he must learn to tread extremely cautious, or else he may unwittingly ignite a ferocious tinderbox." The MP further accused the DCE of deliberately targeting individuals and groups known to be sympathizers of the opposition party, citing instances of unlawful demolition at the New Town market and construction of cocoa farms at Aboduabo, a farming community in the district. Hon. Addae however said he would officially bring the action of the OCE to the attention of the President, Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, The Minister for Interior, the National Security Coordinator the IGP, Religious bodies and an appropriate agency before making any retaliatory move. Meanwhile, the DCE in a rebuttal to the accusations said the billboards were removed because the NPP had refused to honour its tax obligations to the assembly but this claim bas been disputed by the MP, who contend that political party billboards are not liable for taxation. Some of the removed billboards were sighted by the paper at the District Assembly premises last Friday. Source: The Chronicle