THE Brong Ahafo Regional branch of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has expressed grave concern about the manner some supporters and sympathisers of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) from the Asutifi South Constituency of the party in particular have resorted to the use of intimidation and violence in the conduct of their political activities.
It said since the trial of a “motion on notice for interim injunction” for the re-collation of the parliamentary results in the constituency started at the Sunyani High Court on December 22, 2008, some supporters and sympathisers of the NDC had resorted to the use of intimidation and violence in the conduct of their political activities.
The NPP pointed out that if such unwarranted attitude and behaviour of the NDC supporters were not checked and corrected immediately they could disturb the peace that “we are enjoying in the region”.
Reading a press statement at the party’s regional office in Sunyani last Thursday, the NPP Parliamentary Candidate for the Asutifi South Constituency, Mr Yiadom Boakye-Boateng, noted that the police had had a hectic time controlling the irate NDC youth after proceedings at the court presided over by Justice Francis Kwabena Opoku, who is also the supervising High Court Judge, since the case was brought before the court on December 22, 2008.
However, he indicated that supporters of the NPP had been advised by the leadership of the party in the constituency, particularly the parliamentary candidate, to keep cool so they had to wait for over an hour before they could be escorted by the police out of the court premises on the two occasions that the case was called.
Mr Boakye-Boateng filed the motion on December 19, 2008, at the High Court saying, “Please take notice that Messrs Asomah-Cheremeh and Co. Counsel for and on behalf of the Petitioner/Applicant herein will move this honourable court for an order restraining the first and third respondents herein from declaring the parliamentary election held in the Asutifi South Constituency on the seventh day of December 2008 as upon the grounds set out in the accompanying affidavit and for such further order(s) as the honourable court may deem fit to make.”
In his 17-point petition accompanied by an affidavit, the NPP candidate contended, among other issues, that “it is clear that the results of the constituency had been tampered with and that fairness cannot be achieved in this circumstances and for that matter do crave the indulgence of the honourable court to investigate and take a firm decision on it either to discount two ballot boxes and declare the winner or the entire parliament results of the constituency be annulled and fresh election of the parliamentary held”.
According to Mr Boakye-Boateng, at the last sitting of the court on Monday January 12, 2008, “The NDC supporters brought this unruly behaviour to the High Court premises again, chanting war songs while some were seen smoking at the court premises and not even the pleading of their lawyer, Mr Chris Ackuumey, could bring them to order”.
“The NPP supporters had to be restrained by their parliamentary candidate to avert any bloody clash. We were held hostage for close to two hours before the NPP group got out of the court premises and in the face of these unwarranted attacks, the NDC candidate, Alhaji Collins Dauda, stood in their midst,” he alleged.
Mr Boakye-Boateng further alleged that the NDC supporters threatened to attack the NPP members on their way back to the constituency, a threat, that according to him they did carry out, adding, “When the NPP supporters were going back home from Sunyani, they were attacked in Alhaji Dauda’s home town, Mehame, after the NDC youth erected an illegal barrier on the main road to Dadiesoaba”.
He again alleged that, “They attacked the NPP supporters and in the process, one Mensah Aborampa, alias NO Pro, was severely beaten until he fell unconscious.” He named some of the perpetrators as Shaibu, Latifa, Kwabena Kontor, Sadam, Asoma Moro, Adama and Sumaila, whom he said were all part of Alhaji Dauda’s campaign team and live at Mehame.
“We have since reported the incident to the police but not a single arrest has been made and the silence of Alhaji Dauda on these attacks which are led by no other person than his younger brother, is an indication that he sent and supports the attackers. We want to advise Mr Dauda that politics is not a do-or-die affair and that politicians campaign for power to govern the people and for that matter he should prioritise human life more than his selfish political ambition,” Mr Boakye-Boateng stated.
According to the NPP parliamentary candidate, information reaching the party indicated that the NDC at a meeting at Acherensua and Mahame, intended to cause mayhem at the court today Monday, January 19, 2009, the next adjourned date, if the judge fails to pronounce their candidate the winner in the ongoing case, even at the time that the court has not begun actual hearing of the substantive case.
“The court is the place for justice in this country so if supporters of a political party such as the ruling NDC can descend on the court with this unruly behaviour, then God save Ghana,” Mr Boakye-Boateng pointed out.
He declared, “We want to assure the NDC that we in the NPP are prepared to meet them at anytime and any place but we are always guided by our conscience to ensure that the peace Ex-President Kufuor bequeathed this country is sustained. We challenge President J.E. A. Mills to call Alhaji Dauda to order since his action sharply contradicts with the President’s vision.”
“We also appeal to the security agencies to beef up security on the High Court premises today, Monday, January 19, 2009 and other dates on which the case would be heard and ensure that only relevant people, notably witnesses in the case are allowed to enter the court premises to protect human life and properly”, he suggested.
Mr Boakye-Boateng cited many instances that the NDC members had attacked supporters of the NPP, including drivers in the constituency.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment