Salam Mustapha
Leadership of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) have raised serious concern about the acts of violence being perpetrated by supporters of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the aftermath of Saturday’s elections.
It follows the outbreak of violence across the country by supporters of the NDC a day after the elections.
At a press conference in Accra yesterday, National Youth Organiser of the NPP, Salam Mustapha, expressed deep concern about the acts of vandalism, which he said was gradually eroding the peace being enjoyed in the country.
“NDC supporters have already gone on rampage and are looting public and private properties. In Ayawaso North Assembly in Greater Accra, freezers were seen being carried away. In the NADMO office, NDC supporters attacked officials who were at work. Constituency offices of the New Patriotic Party have been violated and destroyed. In Tamale, the Agric office and the School Feeding warehouse has been looted,” he stated as seen in videos in circulation.
He stressed the belief, “This is exactly what leads to electoral violence,” insisting that “the NDC are challenging and pushing the security forces to respond so they can quickly turn around and accuse them of intimidation and violence on their supporters.”
Whilst commending the leader and flagbearer of the NPP, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, for the statesmanship shown and for putting the nation’s interests above all else by conceding defeat barely 14 hours after the close of polls, he said, “We note that despite the NPP’s deep commitment to a peaceful electoral process and transition period, the NDC is exploiting this goodwill by orchestrating chaos and igniting mayhem across the nation.”
“We are disappointed to hear that the NDC has issued a press statement attributing acts of vandalism and looting of state properties to supporters of the NPP,” he noted with worry, and thus urged the police to act swiftly in protecting and arresting the perpetrators of the ongoing acts, since according to him, “the alarming escalation of violence being carried out by NDC supporters against Electoral Commission (EC) officials, NPP parliamentary candidates and security personnel is unprecedented.”
“These incidents have been recorded and have been shown on various media stations. There are videos all over and not one NPP supporter has been seen carrying out any of such dastardly acts,” he revealed.
The affected constituencies still in an embattled decision-making as result of mayhem being caused by the NDC, he said, included Dome-Kwabenya, Okaikwei Central, Ablekuma North, Tema Central, Nsawam Adoagyiri, Suhum, Akwatia, Fanteakwa North, Kpandai, Karaga, Gushiegu, Ahafo Ano North, Obuasi East, Ahafo Ano South West, Techiman South, Damongo and Aowin.
“The NDC in these constituencies have resorted to physical attacks on NPP agents, seizure and burning of ballots and pink sheets in order to destroy the very documents needed for the declaration of winners of the election in these various constituencies,” he narrated.
Apart from that, the NPP National Youth Organiser said, “We have seen and witnessed several episodes of the alarming escalation of violence being meted out by NDC supporters through mass intimidation, threats, and physical attacks on EC officials and security personnel.”
In the Madina Constituency, he indicated that “an NDC supporter stormed the NPP’s election operations centre, accusing them of ballot thumb-printing and vote manipulation” whilst “in the Okaikwei North Constituency, violence erupted at Akweteyman as NDC youth, armed with machetes, attacked the NPP party office, destroying vehicles and property. The NDC youth then alleged that the NPP parliamentary candidate had deployed thugs to disrupt the elections.”
“In the Obuasi East Constituency, NDC voters clashed with military personnel at Akapoliso in an attempt to seize their firearms,” whilst “in the Tolon Constituency, tensions escalated when suspected NDC supporters vandalised an NPP monitoring team’s vehicle at the Nyankpala DA polling centre,” he revealed.
In view of that, Salam Mustapha said, “There is no doubt now that the NDC trained and primed their supporters to cause mayhem, and that they are doing what was drummed into them,” since according to him, “They have a quest to challenge the security forces.”
Meanwhile, he said, “If the state security should react, despite the peaceful way in which the elections have taken place on December 7 and how NPP supporters have carried themselves in a peaceful manner, the NDC will then resort to accusations.”
He, therefore, insisted that “the NDC is forcefully trying to take over election declarations in the Regional EC offices,” and that “the obvious intention is mass provocation which will only result in violence, disruption of activities and a disruption of the key peace processes which we have fought so hard to protect.”
The NPP has, therefore, called for an action to stop the incidence of violence being perpetrated across the country since according to its Youth Organiser, “the NPP will not allow the NDC to undermine Ghana’s hard-won democracy,” saying, “it is our responsibility to protect every citizen of this dear nation.”
The NPP has also called on the Ghana Police Service to maintain law and order at all collation centres and protect the sanctity of the electoral process.
It has further urged the Electoral Commission to ensure the swift execution of its constitutional mandate without interference or intimidation, “Please get the needed documents needed to make you effectively carry out your mandate,” Salam said.
He, however, expressed surprise and deep-seated disappointment on how the President-elect has sat unconcerned for these acts of violence to continue without calling his supporters to order.
“It is you who will be responsible for Ghana’s peace, security and economic stability in a few weeks. We are, therefore, highly surprised and deeply disappointed that you look on whilst these incidents weakening the foundation of peace, security and economic stability to be handed to you continues and will harm the country,” Salam demanded.
“We caution you to note that continued provocations and aggression by NDC supporters may lead to uncontrollable reactions, which could jeopardise national stability,” he warned.
That, he said, was because “NPP supporters have stood firm in the interest of peace and democracy, but our patience is being tested. We will firmly defend ourselves against any attack on us or our members.”
The NPP also took the opportunity to appeal to Ghanaians to “remember that we are one nation with a shared destiny” since according to him, “elections are not a justification for violence or division. Let us all work together to maintain the peace and stability that have been the hallmark of our democracy.”
By Charles Takyi-Boadu