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NPP Warns: Peace, Security Of Election 2012 Will Be Compromised If...
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- Created on Monday, 30 April 2012 00:00
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NPP Warns: Peace, Security Of Election 2012 Will Be Compromised If...
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) says it intends to hold the Inspector General of Police, Paul Tawiah Quaye, to his assurance that the service will uphold the law dispassionately before, during and after the December polls. The party believes the Mills-led administration must also be held accountable for the many infractions that have characterised the biometric voter’s registration across the country.
Addressing a press conference on Monday, the Communications Director of the party, Nana Akomea said despite the “hypocrisy” of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in labelling the NPP as the party that supports violence and politics of ethnocentrism, his party will do well to support the police in enforcing the law.
Nana Akomea further enumerated many instances in the past where officials of the NDC had committed atrocities and made inciting comments that have gone without the law enforcement agencies holding them accountable.
"They worry about ‘all die be die’ but do not worry about the violence visited on NPP supporters at Atiwa and Akwatia and also the shooting of our supporters at Chereponi. They worry about NPP exhorting supporters to strive to win at all cost. But they don’t care about NDC leaders declaring they will win through fair or foul means, or President Mills declaring that he would handover only in 2016!
“They are happy to mention some statements they claim to be ‘’provocative and inciting’’ made by NPP leaders. They don’t care about statements made by NDC leaders,” Mr Akomea said.
He denied justifying acts of lawlessness perpetrated by members of the NPP, saying, the press conference was an attempt to draw the general public’s attention to some of the blatant acts of lawlessness by members of the NDC.
Explaining the essence of the press conference, Nana Akomea later told Joy FM that the party hopes to draw the attention of the IGP to some of the offenses that have gone unpunished.
"If the Police do not act or are not allowed to so act, the peace, safety and security of the elections will be compromised," he warned.
But the Propaganda Secretary of the NDC, Richard Quarshigah, in an interview with Joy FM debunked the accusations from the NPP describing them as unfounded.
He said the NPP must accept its faults and stop attempting to justify the ethnocentric statements made by the Member of Parliament of Assin North, Kennedy Agyapong. He said despite attempts by the NPP to sidestep the real issues, the NDC will be focused on dealing with the issues that matter to Ghanaians.
Read the full statement of the NPP below.
STATEMENT BY THE NPP AT A PRESS CONFERENCE ON MONDAY 30TH OF APRIL 2012
Ladies and gentlemen, we bring you this morning our comments on the recent statements issued by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) on the 25th of April 2012, and also on other recent events of national interest.
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) is a peaceful party. Our record as exemplified in the 2008 elections is unparalleled in Africa.
It can be recalled how during the 2008 election the NDC on Radio Gold incited their supporters and later besieged the premises of the Electoral Commission (EC) for days wielding all sorts of weapons, chanting war songs and terrorising innocent Ghanaians, under the leadership of Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketia, General Secretary of the NDC. The then NPP government did not send Police Officers to either manhandle or throw tear gas into the crowd of supporters.
When as an incumbent government the results indicated we had lost that election by less than half of a per cent, the slimmest of margins, we did not protest, but handed over peacefully.
Again the NPP supervised at least two different registration exercises and yet this country did not witness the current turmoil chaos and tension it is going through regarding the current Biometric Voters Registration Exercise. Even Ex-President Rawlings, the Founder of the NDC is reported to have expressed the same worry.
Several events in the governance of our country, especially recent ones expose the hypocrisy of the ruling NDC government. They worry about Bamba Boys but do not mention Azorka Boys! They worry about calls to self-defence, but they do not mention the cause. The brutalisation and killings of our party’s supporters in Agbogloshie right in front of a Police Station here in Accra have gone unsolved till date. The culprits walk about freely.
They worry about ‘all die be die’ but do not worry about the violence visited on NPP supporters at Atiwa and Akwatia and also the shooting of our supporters at Chereponi. They worry about NPP exhorting supporters to strive to win at all cost. But they don’t care about NDC leaders declaring they will win through fair or foul means, or President Mills declaring that he would handover only in 2016!
They worry about ‘’yesee yen akanfuo’’, but they don’t mention ‘’adzi wo fie a oye’’, (It is better to follow your kinsman) or ‘’Kufuor is not from here so he does not care for us’’ or ‘’the great Ashanti project’’ etc all uttered by President Mills.They are happy to mention some statements they claim to be "provocative and inciting’’ made by NPP leaders. They don’t care about statements made by NDC leaders, such as:
1. Mr. Ohene Agyekum then Ashanti Regional Chairman at a delegate’s conference in Obuasi said: ‘‘Ghana will burn to ashes if the NPP wins the election.’’ The party will never concede defeat. This election is a do or die affair. He commended the formation of the Arkada Boys and the Azorka Boys.
2. "Every sign indicates NDC will win and anybody who stands in our way will not be spared’’
3. "I swear to you, the NPP can never organise any rally in Odododiodio in the near future if that is their mission. The only place that will be safe for them will be in space and not in my constituency’’.
4. Ghana will be like Kenya if the elections are manipulated.
5. The declaration that the postponed elections in Akwatia will be a Jihad (Holy War).
6. The call on Ewes at Aflao to beat up NPP Akan registration monitors.
7. People with Akan names being prevented from registering at Katamanto whilst others with non-Akan names are allowed at Agbogbloshie all in the Odododiodio constituency.
8. Mr Fiifi Kwetey according to wikileaks said: “Concerning Vice President [Aliu] Mahama's Muslim faith, religion is an important factor in Ghanaian politics and many Christian Ghanaians would never vote for a Muslim presidential candidate. While most Ghanaians would not admit this openly, a Muslim could not be elected President of Ghana."
9. The National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary candidate for Ayawaso Central, William Affum Aniagyei aka Obama, speaking on Sunday April 8, 2012 at a convention of the Christ Apostolic Church at Pig Farm said:
“I had said earlier that I would hold back certain things I want to say because of the media but facts are facts and so I would say them. The leadership of the ISLAMIC community have met and resolved that they would annex Africa to Saudi Arabia. They are offering special scholarships to their children as a capacity building means. They are pushing us towards a certain direction. Christians must rise before it is too late and it is my prayer that someday Christianity will triumph over all others.”
10. President Mills in a meeting with then American Ambassador to Ghana, Pamela Bridgewater on March 7, 2006 according to wikileaks said:
"That the nation’s politics is very polarized and ethnically divided, and that the “GREAT ASHANTI Project is terrifying.”
General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia on Tuesday March 28, 2012 on Peace FM morning show "Kokrokoo" said:
"Any attempt to use biometric verification for the upcoming general election could lead to a CIVIL WAR. If Ghanaians want to doubt my prediction, they should consider what is going on with the ongoing biometric registration; the tension, frustration and anger that are being expressed by some people who think they are not being treated fairly are very clear indications."
11. Former Deputy Defense Minister , Dr Tony Aidoo on Radio Gold’s "Alhaji and Alhaji show on March 31,2007 said:
"Conditions have been created today that will justify ten coups d’état."
VIOLENT PARTY?
The NDC claims the NPP plans to unleash terror and throw the nation into chaos.
Ladies and gentlemen, which party and its supporters not only plan but actually unleash terror?
We have all heard and witnessed events since 2009 of NDC foot soldiers in terror and violence:
· Ransacking and locking up of NHIS Offices.
· Ransacking and locking up of NIA Offices
· Seizure and taking over of lorry parks, public places of convenience. Even the Adomi Bridge was once taken over.
· Seizure and locking out of DCE’s offices.
· Attacks on Ministers of state such Hon. Akua Dansoa at a live press conference, a Deputy Minister of Education was threatened with death, the former Upper West Regional Minister and the former Ashanti Regional Minister, who had flee leaving his shoes behind!
· The terrible pictures of thugs in newspapers openly terrorising people on the streets in the Odododiodio Constituency with knives, pickaxes, shovels, hammers, machetes etc just to prevent suspected NPP supporters from registering.
A Deputy Information Minister either out of shock or the usual cover-up said that the pictures could not be coming from Ghana!
Ladies and Gentlemen, we in the NPP sincerely believe our leaders and supporters in their statements and actions have in most cases reacted to the actions and statements coming from leaders and supporters of the NDC.
STOPPING THE CYCLE
This cycle can be stopped when the law enforcement officers particularly the Police do or are allowed to perform their duty in a timely, fair, even handed and professional manner.
If the Police do not act or are not allowed to so act, the peace, safety and security of the elections will be compromised.
There are available pictures of Azorka Boys in pickups at Atiwa, video footage of the shooting in Chereponi, but no action has been taken as we speak. We do not want to engage in any blame game or equalisation, accusations and counter accusations.
How can the cycle be stopped?
Towards this we take the recent assurances by the IGP, Mr. Paul Tawiah Quaye in good faith and call on all to give him the support he needs.
Thank you.
Source: Radioxyz
