Bismark Bebli
7 August 2008
LESS THAN 24 hours after the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) had accused the main opposition party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) of engaging in violent attacks and bussing of minors to register in various polling stations across the country, the NDC has turned the gun on the NPP.
According to the NDC, the emerging pattern of political deceit, mischief, naked aggression, violence and unbridled quest for power was being orchestrated by the NPP.
Speaking at a press conference at the party's headquarters in Accra yesterday, Mr. Johnson Asiedu-Nketia, the General Secretary of the party said, "In fact, the ugly faces of overt and covet harassment, intimidation, intolerance and extreme violence, have become gravely evident in our democratic politics of today and are systematically assaulting our fledging democracy."
He argued that the NPP's alleged plans to compromise the upcoming elections in their favour and create confusion in the NDC strongholds were documented, and what happened at Tamale Central was part of NPP's grand design.
He condemned the acts of violence being allegedly perpetuated by the NPP. "We of the NDC roundly and unreservedly condemn any acts of intimidation, harassment, high-level of intolerance and gratuitous violence, whether it is within a political party, as has been exemplified by the NPP or amongst contending political parties.
Mr. Asiedu-Nketia, known as 'General Mosquito', flanked by Mr. Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, the NDC National Organiser, Hon. E.T Mensah, the MP for Ningo Prampram, Mr. Ato Ahwoi, a leading member of the NDC, Mad. Hannah Tetteh, the party's Communications Director, Mad. Ama Benyiwa-Doe, National Women's Organiser of the NDC, among others, continued that "Our pledge is to, along with other political parties and well-meaning Ghanaians, ensure that our peace is not shattered by sheer greed and strive for power. The total commitment of the NDC is to ensure the sustenance of our cherished democracy.'
The NDC General Secretary also accused the NPP and some of its parliamentary candidates in Ashanti region, especially Isaac Osei, CEO of Cocoa Board, of driving away people perceived to be members of the NDC or perceived to have come from Northern and Volta regions to register.
"We have also been informed that Ghanaian citizens of Northern and Ewe extraction attempting to register in Kumasi, parts of Accra, Sekondi and Takoradi have been turned away from the polling centres on allegations that they are aliens. We wish to remind the Electoral Commission and its officers that Ghana is multi-ethnic society and no particular tribe or ethnic group is more Ghanaian than another."
General Mosquito recounted areas where he had confrontation with NPP Parliamentary candidates who had usurped the powers of the Electoral Officers, and stated that it was clear that the NPP in collaboration with the EC officials provided some polling centres perceived to be NDC strong holds with insufficient materials.
According to him, the claim by the EC that all the necessary logistics were available to them, but could not provide enough registration materials, demands a lot of answers and that the EC was not being truthful to Ghanaians.
On the issues of extending the period of the ongoing registration exercise, the NDC capo believes that it would not solve the emerging problems and that the EC and the government of the day should make sure to address the thorny issues. General Mosquito expressed disgust over how some areas have been facing a lot of challenges and how the NPP officials have arrogated powers to themselves as officials of the EC.
He urged Ghanaians to wage war against the developments and also urged the media to expose the diabolical games of the NPP. Mr. Nketiah refuted all the allegations made against them by the NPP and blamed the later for the current woes of the registration exercise.
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