A group calling itself ‘Fire for Fire’ within the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Asawase Constituency of the Ashanti Region, on Thursday, 5 September 2019, locked up the party’s Ashanti regional office over the disqualification of MP-aspirant Masawudu Mubarick.

Mr Mubarick was nudged off the party’s parliamentary primaries following a decision by the NDC's Functional Executive Committee (FEC).

By consequence of the FEC decision, the incumbent Member of Parliament for the constituency, Mr Muntaka Mubarak, automatically becomes the party’s 2020 parliamentary candidate.

Members of ‘Fire for Fire’ told correspondent Elisha Adarkwah that they will not allow FEC to subvert the will of the people of the party in the Asawase constituency.

A statement released by FEC on Tuesday, 3 September 2019 signed by the General Secretary of the party, Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, said the decision of FEC was “due to the acceptance of the report of the Committee for Settlement of Outstanding Disputes (the Doe Adjaho Committee) at a FEC sitting on Tuesday, 3 September 2019.”

The statement revealed that “three of the petitions from the aggrieved aspirants, including Mr Masawudu Mubarick, were referred to the Committee.

“Two of the petitions relating to Asunafo South and Banda constituencies were amicably settled. By this decision, Hon. Muntaka Mubarak goes unopposed and for that matter stands elected as the parliamentary candidate for the Asawase Constituency.”

However, the angry youth who say they disagree with FEC’s decision, stormed the offices of the party on Thursday morning.

The group of well-built men burned car tyres at the party’s office and ordered occupants of the office to leave, after brandishing their party ID cards before locking up the office.

The group said the party’s office will remain locked until the disqualified candidate is allowed to contest against the incumbent MP for the area.

Meanwhile, personnel from the Ghana Police Service led by Deputy Regional Police Commander, ACP Agyeman Adjem, have been deployed to the office to maintain peace and order.