General News of Friday, 29 December 2000

Source: GNA

Ruling party reacts to opposition allegations on elections

The NDC Thursday night accused its main rival, the NPP of fighting both an election and a psychological warfare in the wake of the just ended presidential run-off polls.

Alhaji Huudu Yahaya, General Secretary of the NDC, said it is not right for the NPP to poison the atmosphere about the elections and make allegations that could have far reaching repercussions on the country's image internationally.

Speaking to the GNA in a telephone interview he said the NPP, through its allegations, seemed to doubt the ability of the security personnel to handle the security situation.

" We must realise the security personnel have distinguished themselves in various operations locally and internationally and are capable of handling any violations of security."

Alhaji Yahaya said in a situation where rocks are thrown at security personnel passing through an area in a vehicle, there must be some reaction from them. " Are they saying if they come to power, they will not use these same security personnel whose authority they are undermining now? Or they will bring others from elsewhere.

"The NPP is panicking as if this is the only elections that will be held in this country now and in the future". He asked:" why is Mr Kwamena Bartels the topical figure in every election.

" During the registration, it was Kwamena Bartels and the December 7 elections, the same Bartels." "On one FM station, he says he has been shot at. Why is he the only person involved in incidents at election time."

Alhaji Yahaya said, "the NDC respects authority. We have called our people to order and we are not going to do anything to undermine constitutional authority". He accused the NPP "of telling a lot of lies. They told lies on an FM station in Tamale that I have arrived in town with stuffed ballot boxes and a number of pistols.

"I went to the same FM station and challenged them to show where I took the boxes and to whom I handed the pistols. I got to Accra only to hear I have been arrested in Tamale with ballot papers".

He said: " we have only one Ghana. Let us be law abiding and leave the people to decide." Alhaji Yahaya said the NDC is ever confident. "We have been candid with the people and knowing where we have come from in the 1980's, we are confident they will stay with us and not those promising them the moon"