The Youth Wing of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) on Thursday described last Monday's statements by former President Jerry John Rawlings as a deliberate attempt to create hatred and peddle falsehood about the government.

It said the former President was trying desperately to avoid the shadows of his past and come to terms with the realities of the time. Speaking at a press conference in Accra, Mustapha Hamid, NPP National Youth Organiser, said the accusation made by the ex-President that the NPP had been using violence to win by-elections were unfounded.

This is because the National Democratic Congress (NDC) had not been able to provide any substantial evidence to that effect. He said on the contrary when the NPP contested and won the Ablekuma and Afigya Sekyere by-elections while in opposition it did so against massive intimidation and violence.

Hamid alleged that in last Tuesday's Gomoa East election, thugs hired by the NDC injured Rita Asobayire, the National Women's Organiser of the party. He referred to claims by the NDC that the NPP was embarking on development projects to buy votes and said: "If that is termed as vote buying then the NDC should brace itself for a more humiliating defeat at Amenfi West and subsequently in 2004."

Hamid said the outcome of the by-elections were a vivid demonstration of the electorate expressing their choice through the ballot box rather than the barrel of the gun. He emphasised that the government was discharging its constitutional obligation by developing all areas of the country irrespective of political affiliation.

Hamid also challenged the NDC to televise its claims of videotapes of an NPP activist buying votes from the electorate at Wulensi. He appealed to the youth to rally behind the party and intensifies their campaign. He also called on the media to play their vanguard role to ensure peace and stability in the country.