General News of Friday, 26 October 2001

Source: .

NDC ask government to stop security agencies

The government has been called upon to stop the security agencies from searching, without warrant, the premises of persons suspected to be in possession of arms without authority.

Former Jomoro District Chairman of the NDC, Mr. Alex Asamoah, who made the call, said such acts violate the human rights of the citizens concerned.

Addressing an NDC reorganisation forum organised by the Effia/Kwesimintsim constituency at Effia-Kuma, near Takoradi on Wednesday, Mr. Asamoah cited the recent incident in which security personnel ransacked the palace of the Omanhene of Sefwi Wiawso Traditional Area on suspicion that he was keeping illegal arms.

However, it turned out that the operation was rather to be conducted at the palace at Sefwi Anhwiaso. This communication error, which embarrassed the Omanhene, could have been avoided if the security agents had done their homework well, he said.

Mr. Asamoah said the NPP has failed to fulfil its major campaign promises of abolishing the cash and carry system, creating thousands of jobs, reducing the tax burden, reducing the size of the executive and making the position of district chief executive elective.

Former Member of Parliament for Takoradi, Ms Tabitha Quaye, called on Ghanaians not to believe in the promises of the NPP government because it has a track record of not keeping its word.

She said the large number of workers being retrenched and dismissed in many establishments these days contradicts the NPP's campaign promise to create thousands of jobs.

Ms Quaye said the failure of the fast-track court to dispose of even one case, involving former NDC Ministers and functionaries arraigned before it six months after its establishment, is an indication of the court's inability to achieve its purpose.

She called on the government not to waste so much time and resources in fruitless efforts to incriminate people just because they happen to be political enemies of the NPP.

The NDC candidate for the Effia/Kwesimintsim parliamentary seat in the last general election, Mr. Mike Abban, called on party members to stop brooding over the past failures but to correct their mistakes and reorganise the party to win the next elections.