Tamale, Feb. 20, GNA - The Executive body of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Northern Region on Sunday appealed to its national leaders to proceed to higher levels of the judiciary to ensure that the jailed Dan Abodapki, was given a free and fair trial. They have also called on the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to put a stop in what they termed "Political trials" to bring about genuine national reconciliation and to promote democratic peace to unite the nation as it prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary.

Alhaji Sumani Zakari, Northern Regional Chairman of the party stated these in a press conference in Tamale to throw light on their stand on Mr. Abodapki's jail sentence and to urge their leaders on to work and free their jailed colleague.

Alhaji Zakari said Mr. J.H Mensah, MP Sunyani East is on record by making the intentions of the NPP known to Ghanaians when he said, "By the time the government finishes with the trial and imprisonment of NDC ministers and functionaries, the NDC will be no more." He said since the NPP took over power in 2001, they had made attempts not only to demonize the NDC but they were also embarking on selective justice, which, he said, was not fair in nation building.

Alhaji Zakari claimed that a large number of NDC personalities in the Northern Region, including its Regional chairman's houses were ransacked under the guise of searching arms and ammunitions.

He said at the same time the NPP functionaries were regularly displaying guns and ammunitions publicly with some of them giving warning shots at voter registration centres and were allowed to go free. The NDC said its Regional Secretary and some former District Chief Executives were always harassed and dragged to investigative bodies on allegations of criminal activities while the same is not being done to NPP ministers and DCEs who were allegedly found to be corrupt.

Alhaji Zakari indicated it was evident the NPP was truly engaged in the use of the criminal justice system to selectively investigate and prosecute only members of the NDC in order to weaken its structures. He expressed fears that the judiciary, which is a critical cornerstone of democratic governance in the country, appeared to be in danger of being compromised under the NPP administration.

He said, the selective justice targeting NDC members would not in anyway "kill" the NDC and gave the assurance that NDC was poised to win power in 2008 and no amount of intimidation would change the minds of voters.