The New Patriotic Party (NPP) is calling on President John Mahama to publicly condemn an attack on the residence of the flagbearer of the party by some members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Sunday morning.
According to the NPP, the unprovoked attack took place at a time when family members of the flagbearer were home, endangering their lives. It took the police about three hours to get to the residence to restore calm.
At a press conference on Sunday the NPP said “We do not want to use this opportunity to attack the Police. They are not our problem. The violent and desperate NDC are our problem. For them to bring the violence to the front gate of our Flagbearer and attempt to enter his house to attack his family is totally unacceptable and must be condemned by John Mahama, the leader of the NDC. He should be manifestly seen to be acting against the violence from his party.”
Below is the full statement signed by John Boadu, acting General Secretary of the NPP.
We called you here this afternoon to condemn, in the strongest possible terms, the latest provocation by the NDC in attacking the home of our Flagbearer, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. Our candidate is in Brong Ahafo campaigning, but, at home this morning was his wife, Auntie Becky, two of their daughters and a baby granddaughter.
Early this morning, around 7am, a large crowd of NDC supporters were ostensibly on a health walk, which we are told the President was scheduled to attend. They were heard and seen coming down the Al-Waleed Bin-Talal Highway, towards the traffic light at the bottom of the Nima Police Station and the Akufo-Addo’s residence.
According to eye witnesses, they started hurling insults at our Flagbearer. But, it didn’t stop there. At around 7:30am, the crowd continued massing up. Mrs. Rebecca Akufo-Addo’s vehicle got to the traffic light, just 40 yards from the house when a gunshot was heard from the crowd. This time, the security men guarding the house realised the house was under attack. In the house were two daughters of Nana Akufo-Addo and his baby granddaughter. A section of the crowd began surging towards the gate of the house in a clear attempt to enter. For what purpose your guess is as good as mine.
Before the NDC fired the shot, one of the guards approached them and demanded of them to leave, whereupon one of the NDC thugs pulled a knife on him, right in the presence of Auntie Becky’s vehicle, but away from her view. The driver managed to manoeuvre away, thinking it was nothing serious at the time.
Unfortunately, all this while the Police, according to eye witnesses, took no meaningful steps to protect the house of the Flagbearer or to stop the violent supporters of the NDC from attacking the place. When they could not enter the house, the thugs decided to throw stones, blocks, bottles and whatever they could get their hands on into the compound of the house. They went ahead to tear down posters of the NPP Flagbearer.
We are most grateful to the bravery and intelligence of the small team of security guards protecting the house. It was their decision to fire rounds of warning shots in the air that finally forced the crowd to beat a retreat.
It is also unfortunate that it took about an hour for police reinforcement to arrive. This is strange and very worrying considering the incident took place in Nima, at the heart of the capital and a five-minute police drive from the Police Headquarters.
We believe the Police have to do more to protect us all. The flagbearer’s house has no Police protection and the fact that he lives right next to the Police station could not discourage the NDC from attacking the house.
We do not want to use this opportunity to attack the Police. They are not our problem. The violent and desperate NDC are our problem. For them to bring the violence to the front gate of our Flagbearer and attempt to enter his house to attack his family is totally unacceptable and must be condemned by John Mahama, the leader of the NDC. He should be manifestly seen to be acting against the violence from his party.
We will do our best to keep our party supporters calm. We want to assure them that we will do our best to protect ourselves. Our commitment to a credible and peaceful election remains strong and will remain strong, no matter the provocation.
But, we want to send a strong warning to the President. We shall not be intimidated. We shall not be assaulted. We will use every constitutional force to protect ourselves and our properties. We believe we have a responsibility to protect our democracy and the only way to do so is not to allow the instruments of violence to have their way.
We are most grateful to all the party supporters who trooped to the residence of our Flagbearer to help keep the peace. We also extend our sincerest thanks to the media for sounding the alarm. Their timely intervention prevented what could have quickly escalated.
The motive for the violent attack by the NDC on Nana Akufo-Addo’s family is not in doubt. The NDC was clearly there for one reason and one reason only: to assault the household and create an enhanced atmosphere of fear within Ghana, 24 days to the election. This action was premeditated and unquestionably violent. According to an eye witness, some of the stones thrown were taken from the back of a vehicle.
Amassing NDC supporters outside of the NPP Flagbearer’s house and in an attempt to enter the house is all part of a broad range of calculated, violent, and provocative acts designed to bait the NPP into responding in similar fashion.
The NPP is not violent, will not be violent and will resist violence. We shall resist it with all our might and legitimately.
We will, however, plead with the police to enhance the security provided to our leaders, including their homes. It is not proper that the daughters of an opposition leader will be effectively kept hostage in their own home for over three hours on a Sunday morning.
Such behavior is a threat to the integrity of our democracy and must not be tolerated.
We call on the National Peace Council, the Christian Council, and all Civil Society Organisations to let their voices be heard in condemnation of this violent act.
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