Delta Force attack: Akufo-Addo must resign – Jamal Konneh

The Eastern regional branch of the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has called for the resignation of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo following Thursday’s attacks at a Kumasi Circuit Court by members of the Delta Force, a private security arm within the New Patriotic Party.

A statement released and signed by Jamal Konneh, Director of Communications of the NDC in the region, said if the Delta Force had had the brazen boldness to storm a court to whisk away suspects and also attempt to assault the trial judge, then the safety of the entire country cannot be safeguarded under this president.

The statement said: “If they can be bold to enter a competent court of jurisdiction and beat up every one there, free their colleague criminals who were yet to be convicted, then how safe is the ordinary man in the street?

“I’m calling on the president to resign because we cannot entrust the destiny of this country into his care. President Akufo-Addo must resign and all civil society groups, religious bodies, Peace Council, and all Ghanaians must be concerned about this call.

“The activities of vigilante groups in the NPP is akin to the insurgents in Iraq, Libya, Nigeria, and Afghanistan. Boko Haram started the same way and the ISIS began their activities in the same manner.

“The president has lost control of his responsibility to protect the citizenry and the only way to put the country's security into a better place is for him to resign.”

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the National Peace Council (NPC), Reverend Prof Emmanuel Asante, has charged the police to deal with lawlessness by vigilante groups.

“We are dealing with outlaws and you don’t legitimise such groups by calling them to enter into dialogue. All we need is for the police to crack the whip to ensure that these groups do not disturb the rule of law and democracy being enjoyed in Ghana,” he said in an interview on Friday, April 7.

He was reacting to news concerning 13 Delta Force members who escaped from police custody with the help of fellow Delta Force colleagues who had thronged the hearing at a Kumasi Circuit Court.

The 13, who were remanded in prison custody and billed to reappear on 20 April, were whisked away through the backdoor of the judge’s chamber by their supporters.

The suspects were standing trial for assaulting the Regional Security Coordinator after his appointments indicating that he was not their preferred candidate.

But latest information indicated that all the 13 have turned themselves in to the police.

Commenting on the issue, Prof Asante said the Delta Force suspects were criminals and must be treated as such, hence no negotiations should be made with the Delta Forces so the law takes its course.

“These are a group of armed robbers, are you going to legitimise them? We have had in this country Al Qaeda Force, we have had this even in Kumasi here, were they people that you call to enter into dialogue with? These are outlaws and must be addressed as outlaws,” he explained.

For him, the police has the responsibility to deal with the situation. He was of the view that if the situation appears too big to handle, the law enforcement agency should liaise with other security agencies to have them crushed.

“If they have difficulty or are outnumbered, they could call in the other security agencies to come in, rally with them to maintain law and order so that ordinary Ghanaians can go about their normal duties without fear of these groups coming to threaten them,” he added.