Tension has erupted between members of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) following the dismantling and removal of a large billboard featuring opposing presidential candidate John Dramani Mahama at Mankessim in the Central Region. 

The incident, reported by Nana Tawiah, a Class91.3FM correspondent, occurred just four days after the billboard was erected at the Mankessim Roundabout.

Residents awoke on Thursday, November 23, 2023, to find the prominent billboard pulled down. 

NDC members have pointed fingers at the Member of Parliament for Mfantseman Constituency, Ophelia Mensah Heyford, and the New Patriotic Party's Mfantseman Constituency Chairman, alleging their involvement in the dismantling of the billboard.

Addressing the issue in a press conference at the party's office, Mr Fred Budu-Hagan, the Mfantseman Constituency Chairman of the NPP, urged the National Investigation Bureau (NIB) to provide CCTV footage capturing the incident.

He suspects the assailants are affiliated with the NPP and stressed the importance of identifying the perpetrators from the video footage.

Mr Fred Budu-Hagan threatened consequences for those responsible, vowing to uncover the culprits.

"We want them to know that we will not entertain this nonsense; they are even lucky that we didn’t see the people who pulled down the billboard. We’ll get them,” he warned. 

“The billboard was mounted four days today, and it has been demolished this morning. We are demanding the video footage of the area; else, no billboard would be seen before and after the 2024 general elections," he declared.

He also called on residents to remove any remaining billboards before nightfall.

Some residents, however, questioned the permit for mounting the billboard at the Mankessim Roundabout and called for the arrest of those responsible for granting such permits.

In contrast, the Paramount Chief of Mankessim, Osagyefo Amanfo Edu, appealed for peace and unity between the two party members. Concerned about potential violence in the lead-up to the 2024 elections, he urged security services in the Mfantseman municipality to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter.