The Chairman of the National Peace Council, Most Rev Professor Emmanuel Asante, says the call by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to its supporters to defend themselves in the event of attacks, could trigger chaos and anarchy in the country.
In the wake of isolated cases of attacks on some supporters of NDC in the aftermath of last week’s elections, the NDC Chairman, Kofi Portuphy, urged party supporters Thursday to defend themselves when they face any attack from alleged supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
He said the NDC has had enough of attacks allegedly being perpetuated by activists of the NPP, and has asked its members to respond in equal measure if the attacks persist.
But Rev. Asante has condemned the call by the NDC, and called on the Police and other security agencies to demonstrate that they are in control of the county’s security.
“If Portuphy says they should defend themselves we are creating anarchy so the police must crack the whip”, Prof Asante told Onua FM’s Ghana Dadwene on Thursday. Prof Asante observed there could be criminals behind the act of attacks and seizure of the some government properties in parts of the country, and not necessarily the members of the NPP and NDC.
“If someone slaps you, it should not be politicized. It is a criminal offence and not to be politicized. The NDC and NPP will not ask their members to go and fight or seize government property because the incoming party needs peace to work just as the outgoing party needs peace to re-organized,” he indicated.
Rev. Asante explained that some people wishing to commit crime will capitalize on the situation and hide behind a political party to do so, saying “They have covered their faces with political parties and I don’t really see why we should politicize these matters”.
He charged the police and security agencies to be firm and act swiftly because they are mandated to provide security to the people of Ghana.
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