The National Peace Council has condemned in strong terms acts of vandalism reported across the country following the victory of New Patriotic Party (NPP) in last Wednesday’s polls.
The Council has wondered why supporters of both the victorious party and governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) will disturb the stability of the country, despite the peace that characterised the election process.
Council Chairman, Professor Reverend Emmanuel Asante said such acts are barbaric that should not be encouraged in the country.
Hours after the Electoral Commission (EC) announced NPP’s Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as the President-Elect for the country, there were reports of assaults and vandalism allegedly perpetuated by NPP supporters.
Government properties such as power installations and buildings were destroyed. The toll booth on the Tema Motorway was set ablaze on Monday.
NPP supporters were said to have taken over public toilets, district Youth Employment Agencies (YEA) as well as the Youth Enterprise Support (YES) offices.
President John Mahama in his speech at the Transition meeting on Sunday expressed his disappointment with the act, directing the police administration to arrest individuals who are found assaulting innocent Ghanaians.
The NPP leadership has also condemned the acts urging its supporters to desist from behaviors that will destabilise the peace the country is enjoying.
But Prof Rev. Asante does not see why NPP supporters will also do their own Transition by seizing government offices in the various districts and Regions.
“This is contrary to the law,” he said, adding Ghanaians need to outgrow from such acts that do not help the general peace of the country.
“We need to go forward. Please respect other people and in your jubilation do not create the situation we seem to be hearing,” he said.
He, however, did not rule out acts of mischief spearheaded by supporters of the governing party to paint the NPP as a violent party.
“There are people who will deliberately want to create a situation by ‘give the dog a bad name and hang it’ which they know it is not true,” he said.
He urged supporters of both the NPP and NDC to protect the peace of the country. “The dust must prevail,” he said, adding, “Ghanaians must work together to build the country.”
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