You Have no Moral Right to Criticize the NPP on Security Matters - Katakyie to NDC

Ever since the issue of the Delta Force emerged, a lot of Ghanaians have condemned the act and it is interesting to note that, the NPP supporters have been at the forefront in such criticisms and condemnation. Unfortunately, the NDC has taken advantage of the ugly situation and wants to prove to all and sundry that, it has a better record when it comes to guaranteeing people's freedoms, rights and security. But, some of us do not have short memory as their defeated leader, Onaapo Mahama once said.

It is in this regard that I present to readers, a few documented incidents for public consumption and judgement.

• Prior to the 2008 general elections, Prof. John Mills threatened to BURN Ghana like Kenya should his party be denied victory in the general elections.

• In September 2008, an NPP rally was disrupted by gunfire, forcing the party's vice presidential candidate Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia to flee.

• Then on the Election Day (07/12/08), there were several reports of voter intimidation and election irregularities in Volta Region. Dr. Sammy Ohene, an NPP polling agent was subjected to an inhuman treatment at Dedeho in Ho West constituency. A group of between 10 and 15 people set upon him, kicked him, and others took planks and sticks and stones and beat him up like a thief. When the blood started spurting from his face, one of them said, let's finish him off. This wicked action was condoned and connived by the presiding officer, Mr. Ankude and the chief inspector Attisogbui.

• In January 2009, His Excellency J.A. Kufuor had his office and cars seized. This was followed by Nana Akufo-Addo, Dr. Bawumia and other former government officials.

• On the 8th of August, 2009 in Osu, Accra, police shot the 18 year old son of a former Member of Parliament in the leg outside a night club as he was leaving the venue with friends. Sadly, two hospitals denied him medical attention because he didn't possess a police report.

• On Tuesday August 28, 2009, some NDC activists who call themselves “Taliban Boys” butchered to death three NPP members whilst others sustained varying degrees of injury. Not even a press conference by the Minority to release names of seven persons responsible for this heinous crime on September 25, 2009 could compel the police to effect any single arrest.

• In the same August, Mainoo was beaten to death by NDC thugs after taking part in a demonstration against the unlawful detention by the BNI of Mr. Asamoah Boateng, a former Minister of State.

In the same month, two NPP men were killed at Kokomba Yam market in Agbobloshie, Accra.

On September 17, 2009, police briefly closed an independent radio station in the Northern Region owned by former vice-president, Alhaji Aliu Mahama. The regional police commander ordered the police to close the station and the staff were arrested and detained for several hours.

On April 11, 2009, an Upper East Regional correspondent of The Chronicle was assaulted by supporters of the NDC for photographing party activity. His camera was also destroyed.

On May 28, 2009, a group of NDC supporters besieged a privately owned FM radio station in the Brong-Ahafo region, attacking three persons and vandalising the station.

• In August 2009, the Deputy Regional Minister of Brong-Ahafo, Eric Opoku condoned and connived a serious crime by hiding a murderer under his bed.

On September 29, 2009 several NPP members and sympathizers sustained various degrees of injuries by NDC activists as a result of the by-election in the Chereponi constituency in the Northern Region.

In the same year, the Deputy Minister of the Eastern Region, Baba Jamal declared Jihad (Holy War) in the Akwatia constituency in his quest to win the parliament seat.

In November 2009, a video clip and still photos were released to the media depicting military personnel in Bawku interrogating and abusing two naked civilian suspects who happened to be professional teachers. Still photos showed a soldier kicking a suspect and placing the tip of his gun in the suspect's mouth. They were later made to parade the principal streets naked and in front of their school children.

On January 6, 2010, the Ashanti Regional Minister – Kofi Opoku-Manu urged NDC supporters to resort to violence during a speech to his party supporters in Kumasi. Should any opposition member dare criticize the NDC government, slap him if you can do so were the exact words from the NDC man.

¢ In February 2010, 27 houses belonging to NPP sympathizers were completely burnt down by NDC activists in Tamale during a clash between the two parties' sympathizers. Not a single arrest was made.

On February 6, 2010, Afrifa Yamoah Ponkoh of the NDC violently attacked Lawyer K. Owusu Afriyie aka 'Sir John', then a contender in the NPP General Secretary race during a political discussion on the studios of Hello FM in Kumasi. He pulled a chair and tried to smash it on Sir John until he was restrained by the other panelists.

On February 18, 2010, Nana Darkwa, an NPP activist was arrested by the police led by Kofi Adams – a deputy general secretary of the NDC and an aide to J.J. Rawlings. Nana was subsequently prosecuted on charges for publishing news with the intent of causing fear and alarm in violation of the Criminal Act 208.

On March 22, 2010, the NDC youth at Sankore in the Asunafo South of Brong Ahafo Region attacked the NPP youth with cutlasses, sticks and other offensive implements without any provocation leaving three people with severe injuries.

On April 10, 2010, 30 persons including the caretaker of the Abudugate, a vice – chairman of Yendi constituency, a former DCE of Yendi in the Kufour administration were arrested at dawn by the police in connection with the murder of Overlord of Dagbon, Ya-Na.

On May 24, 2010, the Buffalo Unit of the police service in Kumasi picked Alexander Adu-Gyamfi, also an NPP activist for allegedly describing the face of John Mills as similar to that of a big 'Chimpanzee'.

On June 27, 2010, Bashiru Mohammed aka 'Red', another NPP activist was apprehended at the Kotoka International Airport by BNI officials on his way from South Africa and was prosecuted at a court in Tamale for possessing firearm without lawful authority and offensive conduct in 2004.

On Thursday July 27, 2010, two NPP supporters were severely beaten with sticks and metal bars by NDC thugs for reporting to the police that an NDC co-ordinator in Akyem Begoro in the Eastern Region was carting illegal timber.

• In the course of 2010, leading members of the NPP – Messrs Mpiani, Sammy Crabbe, Osei Adjei, Dr. Wireko Brobbey, Dr, Anane were hounded to the court and were charged for wilfully causing financial loss to the state.

In the course of 2010, many employees of the NHIS, NYEP, SFP, Metro Mass, toll booths, etc alleged to be sympathetic to the NPP were dismissed by NDC 'fool' soldiers.

I won't talk about the 'Muntie 3', for it took Ministers of State and the President to make the Judiciary useless.

What about the confession on the radio by Naba, the younger brother of Hon. Collins Dauda? This is a guy who told the whole world that, he was killing people on daily basis.

From the above, and without making equalization of wrong doing, I find it quiet absurd as to why the NDC wants to be holier than the Pope. What did their founder, Rawlings do to Ghanaian women, if I may ask?

Let's all say no to vigilante groups in Ghana.

Katakyie Kwame Opoku Agyemang

Asante Bekwai-Asakyiri

0202471070