Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the vice president and Flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party(NPP) in the just ended general elections has urged President-elect John Dramani Mahama to step in and prevent members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) from assembling at collation centres with offensive weapons.

Dr. Bawumia's comments come after reports of NDC supporters demonstrating at collation centres to protest delays in the declaration of certain constituencies and to contest parliamentary results.

He denounced incidents in which NDC supporters allegedly stormed collation centers and, in certain situations, announced their parliamentary candidates as the winners without seeking official confirmation.

Dr. Bawumia underlined that such behavior contradicts Ghana's democratic principles and urged all sides to follow the law and show respect for the organizations in charge of conducting elections.

In a statement issued on December 9, Dr Bawumia said, “I wish to call on the President-elect, His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, to exhibit statesmanship by reining in his supporters in order to preserve the peace and unity of the country. There have been many incidents of NDC members besieging collation centres with offensive weapons to forcibly declare NDC parliamentary candidates as winners of some parliamentary contests. We believe that this is not in keeping with the democratic culture we are all trying to nurture.”

He also expressed concerns about the theft and looting of state assets, as well as the demolition of public offices and state organizations.

He emphasized that the president-elect must safeguard state assets and people, saying, “He has won an election; he has not staged a coup d’etat. He has a responsibility to contribute to protect life and property.”

Read below the statement by Dr Mahamudu Bawumia:

H.E John Dramani Mahama Please Call Your Supporters To Order To Preserve The Peace And Unity of The Country.

I have noted with deep concern the embarrassing state of lawlessness and thuggery being unleashed on innocent Ghanaians and state institutions by members of the National Democratic Congress.

I wish to call on the President-elect, His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, to exhibit statesmanship by reining in his supporters in order to preserve the peace and unity of the country. There have been many incidents of NDC members besieging collation centres with offensive weapons to forcibly declare NDC parliamentary candidates as winners of some parliamentary contests. We believe that this is not in keeping with the democratic culture we are all trying to nurture.

I am also saddened by the indifference and silence on the part of Mr. John Dramani Mahama and the NDC in relation to the violence and mayhem being unleashed on members of the NPP and other people perceived to be sympathisers. These wanton acts of lawlessness and brutality have been extended to state institutions and public offices, looting and stealing state properties in the process.

As a result of this, some public offices were forced to close for business. In a bizarre twist, these barbaric acts are being extended to private homes and properties of individuals, with some receiving death threats.

It is regrettable that these reprehensible acts are being perpetrated following an electoral process that has been widely touted as credible. We must at all times place the national interest over and above any individual interest.

I would like to remind President Mahama that he has won an election; he has not staged a coup d’etat. He has a responsibility to contribute to protecting life and property.

I believe President Mahama and the NDC know that if these acts continue, people will be compelled to take reasonable steps to defend themselves. The last thing anybody wants is to mar the beauty of the successful elections that have just been concluded. Mr. Mahama and the NDC should demonstrate that they are not reluctant democrats.

Thank you.



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