Action Forum man denounces Victor Smith

Mr Abrampah Mensah, Interim National President of the Action Forum of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), who has been implicated in an attempt to harm some journalists in the country, on Thursday denounced Mr Victor Smith, an aide of former President Jerry John Rawlings, as an anti-democrat.

"The NDC as a political party has no hand in any plot against journalists in the country. But certain individuals within the NDC party who have never believed in democratic principles are using diabolical plans to pursue their political ambitions, not caring a hoot about the party's political image," he said.

He was speaking at a news conference organised to react to what he described as insinuations and misrepresentations on the airwaves and in the print media against him.

Security agencies are investigating Mr Smith, Special Assistant to former President Rawlings, and Mr Mensah for a letter Mr Smith said he helped Mr Mensah to draft to warn two journalists about their criticism of the former President.

The two journalists are Mrs Margaret Amoakohene, a lecturer at the School of Communication Studies, University of Ghana, Legon and Mr Kweku Baako Jnr, Editor of the Crusading Guide.

Mr Mensah said he was founder and leader of the Action Forum and they have been working with Mr Smith's office since its establishment. "Indeed I have known Mr Victor Smith for years."

Mr Mensah said as a law-abiding citizen, "I was shocked when the option of causing harm to journalists was proposed by Mr Smith. And as Ghanaian and nationalist, I was not prepared to be part of that." He said it was "shameful and rather disturbing" that Mr Smith should organise threatening letters against some good journalists of this country.

Mr Mensah, who described himself as a staunch member of the NDC, said he had never written an apology letter through an Accra FM station to Former President Rawlings and Victor Smith in his (Mr Mensah's) involvement in a secret plot to kill journalists.

"I simply wish to state that I did not write the so called apology letter. I strongly believe it is a diabolical plan poorly executed by the few anti-democracy elements within the NDC who, being angry with me, are trying to incriminate me in order to cover their shameful deeds."

He said the NDC as a party was trying to build a bridge with the media and would not encourage violence against it. Mr Mensah denied being planted by Mr Baako or Dr Obed Asamoah, a leading member of the NDC, to trap Mr Smith.

He said he enjoys support from many NDC members, who have a strong desire to sustain national democracy. Mr Mensah called on the party hierarchy to condemn those who want to undermine critical institutions like the media, judiciary and chieftaincy.

He denied ever appearing before any disciplinary committee of the party for insubordination and called on political parties to encourage their members to be bold and to speak the truth to move the country forward.