The Women’s Wing of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has declared its preparedness to face any antics of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and their cronies.

The Women’s Wing said, “It is only women and men of valour who leave their foot-prints on the sand of time and not shallow-minded twisters and spin doctors”. The National Women’s Organiser of the NDC, Ms. Frances Asiam made this statement at a press briefing in Accra on Wednesday.

Full Text

The vitriolic attack on the Founder of the NDC Party and the Women’s Wing in the aftermath of the inauguration of the Ashanti Regional Working Committee is nothing but a well calculated attempt by some functionaries and spin-doctors of the NPP administration to develop and perpetuate a Gestapo state as well as a one party state. The Women’s Wing of the party, being the body under whose auspices the Kumasi events was organized, feels compelled to respond to misrepresentations by the NPP government.

Paul Apraku in his article in the Free Press edition of Monday August 19-25, 2002, stated that the meeting in Kumasi was illegal and a breach of the Public Order Laws. He further opined that the leaders had committed a criminal offence and could be charged before a court of competent jurisdiction. The Women’s Wing wants him to understand clearly that, we do not need a police permit for an inauguration. We are not perturbed! Let them charge us! We are ready to face any antics of the NPP and their cohorts.

If this is another agenda being sought and pushed by the NPP government, to attack the NDC Women’s Wing, we are ready for them. For it is only men and women of valour who leave their foot prints on the sands of time and not shallow-minded twisters and spin doctors. Politics is not for the faint-hearted. Several government functionaries have made a few questionable and unbalanced remarks. The ranting and raving of the deputy government spokesperson, suggest that he is rather in dire need of psychiatric treatment. His irresponsible utterances are a disgrace to his office and expose his unsuitability for the office he holds.

The persecution of leaders of the Women’s Wing goes to show the intolerant tendencies of the non-performing NPP GOVERNMENT. No amount of vile propaganda, official harassment and threats of intimidation will deter us from our goal as organizers of the NDC party and from pointing out the rot going on in our society resulting in polarization of our society. The unfulfilled promises of the NPP administration, the general state of despondency, the continuing economic deterioration, policy confusion, lack of confidence in government’s dealings with both local and international entrepreneurs and investors, the rapid depreciation of the cedi, the culture of unbridled patrimonialism, the unprecedented levels of corruption, the lack of regard for public opinion, and the attempt to muzzle all voices of dissent are all indicators that the NPP administration has failed.

Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, Kwabena Agyepong and their chain of inept and inadequate spin-doctors, should know that, the inimical policies of the NPP government are having a negative and not positive impact on Ghanaians. In their attempt to conceal their failure, they have resorted to launching undue attacks on their political opponents and are suffering from delusions of grandeur. They should know we are all wide-awake and come December 2004, they would be shown the way out. The spin on the former President’s speech exposes their hypocrisy.

The ever-insolent and intemperate Dr Vladimir Antwi-Danso’s attempt to rationalize the “BOOM” speech of President Kufour in the period before election 2000 is an attestation to the apathy for lies by those who claim to know, and smacks of intellectual dishonesty. According to the Statesman publication of April 9, 2000, Mr J.A. Kufour, the then NPP flagbearer in an exclusive interview stated categorically, that “there would be major upheaval in this country resulting from the explosion of the people’s anger, if the NDC continues with its “vampire approach” to the management of the economy. He stated among other things, that ……………” is soon bound to erupt into a chaotic situation that may prove expensive for all”.

He also quoted, that the “audacity” and “effrontery” of government to increase the prices of goods and services without commensurate increases in income levels is a show of contempt and insensitivity that would have sparked off upheavals by now, elsewhere in the world”. Where were the theoreticians on treasonable felony? Where were the BNI then? We are of the belief that Dr Antwi-Danso’s justification of Mr Kufour’s speech as a warning if H.E. Jerry John Rawlings “played any tricks by manipulating the elections or his refusal to honour the obligation of the constitution” clearly depicts that either he is suffering from ‘intellectual amnesia’ or he did not clearly understood the contents of the statesman publication, or he was suffering from the syndrome of pathogenic lying.

As a lecturer-politician, Dr Antwi Danso should check his facts before attempting to defame and malign others and pour dust into the eyes of the Ghanaian public. The orchestrated defaming and maligning of former President Rawlings by the NPP and their agents is obvious to all. Subtle efforts to create a culture of silence will not achieve any notable impact. The NDC Women’s Wing will not waver, or succumb to any attempts to subdue its efforts. We will continue to ensure that effective mobilization and sensitization of our grassroot support base are carried out against political poachers and leeches. The refusal by a section of the media to publicise our activities, have rather strengthened our resolve.

The inaugural events in Kumasi and Sunyani have shown that the NPP administration has lost the election in advance and the ballot box will surely prove this in December 2004. The people will not be confounded by theories from warped minds and agent provocateurs. The NDC Women’s Wing stands shoulder to shoulder with the Founder of the party, H.E. Flt Lt. Jerry John Rawlings and his family in these trying moments. We express our unflinching solidarity with them, and we will continue to exercise our right to free speech in the democratization process. We will resist any attempt to curb our rights and freedoms, particularly those of speech and association.

SECURITY REPORT

Information received indicates that the National Security Meeting of the NPP Government was held on the 4th July 2002 at the castle Osu.

Attendants:

Dr Addo Kufour - Minister of Defence and Acting Minister of Interior

Nana Akuffo Addo - Attorney General and Minister of Justice

Jake Obetsebi Lamptey – Minister of Information

I.G.P.

Dr Addo Kufour in his opening address said when he assumed as Acting minister of Interior, he made certain changes in the monitoring team. The present Head of the monitoring team is Mr Malik from the BNI the former Head of the monitoring team is now back to the BNI. He said a list of names of former Ministers and party functionaries of the NDC have been submitted to him for monitoring.

That he has instructed the new Head of the monitoring team to submit monthly reports to his Office. At this point, Nana Akuffo Addo said he has asked General Hamidu during his term of Office to submit a copy of the monitoring report to his Office, but General Hamidu kicked against this request saying that he Nana Akuffo Addo wanted to take over the work of the security.

He said, he hopes that the acting minister of the Interior would be sending a copy of these reports to his Office. He said that at the last meeting he assured the members that he would win the review and the Fast Track Court would come to stay.

That he has received (50) fifty applicants from Lawyers who are ready to work with the Ministry that he has submitted their names and particulars to the BNI for screening about their political affiliation and conduct. That he has given a copy of this list to the general secretary of the party for recommendations.

On his part, Mr Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey said he wants members to approve the proposal he has submitted concerning the monitoring of the Former Head of State, his wife, former ministers and National Executive Members of the NDC. That his proposal was that the foreign office Abroad should monitor the movement of all the National Executives of the NDC including the former President and his wife.

That their activities should be studied and reports should be sent to the Foreign Minister for action to be taken. In his reaction Dr Addo Kufour said he has asked the party intelligence outfit to submit reports on all the functionaries of the NDC who they feel could tarnish the image of the NPP Government that this would enable the security to tap their telephones.

He again assured the members that the Armed Forces are solidly behind the NPP Government and that he hoped any body who tries to organize the Armed Forces to destabilize the NPP Government would be crushed.