John Kudalor, Inspector General of Police (IGP)
Leadership of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Eastern Region has vowed to carry out reprisal attacks on supporters of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) who attacked NPP members in the region if the police do not address gangsterism by activists of the ruling party.
The NPP therefore appealed to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), John Kudalor to call the NDC to order and stop its members from attacking and intimidating NPP members or else they would defend themselves.
The Eastern Regional NPP sounded the warning at a press conference addressed by its chairman, Kiston Akomeng Kissi.
Mr Akomeng Kissi, flanked by the regional executives, told journalists at the Suhum Constituency office that the NDC has adopted the use of violence as a campaign strategy in some constituencies in the region.
In the Eastern Region, particularly Suhum, Abirem and Akwatia, they will continue to fulfill their purported ill-fated 50/50 agenda.
According to the statement, “The NPP, in the Eastern Region, will like to state in clear and unequivocal terms that we will not tolerate this going forward.”
The warning comes on the heels of an alleged attack by NDC thugs on NPP Loyal Ladies, a women supporters’ group of the opposition party, who had gone to campaign at Suhum.
They attack innocent citizens, and in some cases, in the full glare of the police, it stated.
Reported Cases
It cited the alleged attacks on the opposition party’s polling station Chairman for Methodist Junior High School (JHS), Suhum, Ibrahim Yusif on August 26th, 2016; NPP youth called Abubakari Bala on 27th August, 2016, as well as the abduction and unlawful detention of an NPP youth activist, Akpabli Amenyo on August 28, 2016
According to the NPP, “These violent schemes have the propensity of marring the peace and stability of the region before, during and after the elections.”
Inaction
The Eastern Regional NPP called on the Peace Council and the law enforcement agencies to warn supporters of the NDC in the region to desist from such barbaric attacks.
But it appears the Peace Council and the security agencies are reluctant in addressing the concerns of the opposition party in the Eastern region, considering the continuous reports of brutal attacks on NPP supporters by the NDC in the area.
According to the party, “We have come to the realization that the Eastern Regional Police Command, their Divisional and District Commanders are not being professional in their work.”
It said, “Indeed, the Ghana Police Command in the Eastern Region has proven to us beyond reasonable doubt that our civil approach to the incessant aggression and attacks of the NDC will not work.”
The Eastern NPP stressed that “we therefore caution that henceforth we will be forced to adopt a new approach to defend our supporters and our interests if need be.”
Probe
“The opposition party urges the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to, as a matter of urgency, commence thorough investigations into all the cases mentioned above and institute a probe into the conduct of the Suhum Municipal Police Commander and his Crime Officer.”
EC Accused
Meanwhile, leadership of the Eastern Regional branch of the NPP has alleged that “the Electoral Commission, by some of its actions and inactions, is scheming to give undue advantage to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the region.”
“One of such actions is the unwarranted transfer of the District Electoral Officer of the Suhum District after he prevented unqualified people, who we have found were sponsored by the NDC from transferring their votes.”
According to the statement, “We are reliably informed that his transfer was at the behest of the NDC parliamentary candidate. We are further reliably informed that the ransacking of the EC’s offices was done by thugs sent by the Suhum Municipal Chief Executive cum NDC parliamentary candidate. Items taken by these rampaging criminals were taken to the Suhum Municipal Chief Executive’s residence.”
It said, “It will sadden you to learn that these thugs were driven in a vehicle belonging to the state. This vehicle is a dark blue Ford Expedition with registration number GB 246–12. It is known to be used by a man nicknamed ‘Cambodia,’ a brother of Mr. Julius Debrah, the Chief of Staff.”
“When Suhum Municipal Police Commander, Superintendent Yahaya, attempted to retrieve the stolen items from the MCE’s residence, he and his men were assaulted and held hostage. His phone was seized by the thugs who made him beg for it in the presence of the MCE.”
“This must be investigated by the IGP and the feedback made public to avert any negative repercussions based on suspicion of bias,” it declared.
BY Melvin Tarlue &Daniel Bampoe, Suhum