A flag bearer-aspirant of the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Goosie Tanoh has condemned the shooting incident at the Ashanti regional office of the party on Monday, 18 February 2019, which led to the death of one person.

Mr Tanoh described the attack as “cowardly” and called on the police to swiftly “investigate the incident, apprehend the culprits and bring them to justice.”

A statement from Mr Tanoh’s campaign team said: “We are grateful that the party has resolutely rejected the various militia-type groupings that are claiming an association with the NDC. We endorse fully the Party’s decision that only the Ghana Police Service (or other uniformed services) of the State will provide security for the upcoming presidential primaries.

“We renew our call on our comrades, and especially those in leadership positions, to affirm our constitutional political project and reject violence and intimidation regardless of whether perpetrated by the ruling NPP or by our own misguided comrades. Partisan violence cannot achieve social justice and development - only widows, widowers, orphans and invalids. As long as our constitutional framework remains in place, we must resist repression peacefully and use superior political organisation to establish the authority of the People over these violent forces.”

Background:

A gunman identified by eyewitnesses as a member of vigilante group The Hawks, which is affiliated to the NDC, shot at fellow party members during a regional executive meeting in Kumasi.

The shooter, according to the eyewitnesses, shot the first victim thrice – first in the thigh, then in the belly and on the back as he fell to the ground.

Reports reaching ClassFMonline.com indicate that members of The Hawks pitched camp on one side of the meeting while members of the NDC task force also pitched camp on the opposite side.

One of the members of The Hawks began throwing tantrums that something was going to happen, according to the eyewitnesses, and the victim from the task force approached him and said nothing was going to happen.

It resulted in heated verbal exchanges and the member of The Hawks pulled a gun and shot the victim from the NDC task force, the eyewitnesses said.

The victim was rushed to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital where he died.

Another victim shot by the same gunman has sustained injuries but still alive and in critical condition.

The suspect is currently on the run.

Meanwhile, the party has issued a statement claiming gunmen on a motorbike drove by and fired at its supporters and sped off.

The statement, signed by the party’s regional secretary Kwame Zu, said: “Some men on motorbike wielding guns attacked a gathering outside, shot indiscriminately and sped off”.

Read the NDC’s full statement below:

NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS – ASHANTI REGIONAL SECRETARIAT

OFFICIAL STATEMENT ON INCIDENT AT THE ASHANTI REGIONAL OFFICE ON MONDAY FEBRUARY 18, 2019

The Ashanti Regional Secretariat of the National Democratic Congress regrets to report that an unfortunate incident occurred at the party’s regional office today, Monday 18th February 2019.

The regrettable incident occurred while a meeting between the National Chairman, The General Secretary, a Deputy General Secretary and the Regional Executive Committee were ongoing. Some men on Motorbike wielding guns attacked a gathering outside, shot indiscriminately and sped off.

We regret to announce that one of the two men who were shot has passed on and the other is in a critical condition at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH). The National Chairman, General Secretary and the Regional Executive Committee have visited him at the hospital.

We request the police to carry out a thorough investigation into the matter and bring the perpetrators to book.

Signed,

Kwame Zu (Regional Secretary)

18th February 2019