CDF - Human rights group calls for full investigation into activities of NDC thugs and cohorts
We, of the Coalition of Democratic Forces (CDF), have been watching with trepidation the activities of the NDC government, their lawyers and supporters (who are in recent weeks looking more as bandits than supporters of a political party) call for an immediate end to the lawlessness and violence their supporters are meeting out on innocent citizens of our dear country, Ghana.
State of insecurity
May we, however, in the first place, note our shock and utter disbelief the gruesome murder of Shigu Naa Yakubu Andani Garishigu Naa by NDC activists. We, of the CDF, are shocked such atrocities continue to take place in the country. What is more disappointing is the government’s silence on the issue, despite its potential security implications. We are therefore calling on the government to make a public statement condemning this gruesome murder and act of terrorism as a matter of urgency.
Furthermore, having, no faith in the government’s ability to handle the issue because of its complicity in the matter, we are calling for a bi-partisan investigation and a judicial inquiry into this unacceptable death which will bring the perpetrators of this heinous murder to book.
Intimidation of ordinary citizens by NDC functionaries
Again, there is a litany of acts of intimidation, death threats, and insecurity bedevilling the entire country today. These acts of intolerance, aggression and terrorism are being visited on Ghanaians by the NDC and its cohorts. In fact areas, hitherto without any history of violence are suddenly experiencing gross security breaches and the spate of violence and ease with which these acts are accomplished has left the entire country on edge. Indeed ordinary citizens feel so unsafe in Ghana today. This is a tragedy considering that a few years back Ghana was the ultimate destination of tourists and President Obama chose Ghana for his first sub-Saharan visit due to our potent credentials in governance, maintenance of human rights, economic growth and security.
We are concerned with the public death threats to the Yendi Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Hudu Welvis by NDC activists acting on the direction and tacit approval of the NDC top hierarchy, the booting out of office of the Chairman of the Confiscated Vehicles Allocation Committee (CVAC), Carl Wilson, after the shameful act of a group of National Democratic Congress (NDC) activists locked up the party headquarters and demanded his sacking. We are extremely worried about the renewed violence at Bawku, where NDC sympathisers are operating a guerrilla training camp culminating in numerous clashes between Mamprusis and Kusasis which bloody clashes are even taking place in far-away Kumasi.
The internecine clashes in Bawku are orchestrated by persons like Mahama Ayariga who, for all his iniquities, has been rewarded with a Ministerial appointment by President Mills. We will also recall the case of the Tuobodom chief, who was stripped naked and beaten up while security operators did nothing about it and the recent public beating of sympathisers of Nana Darkwa at a court premises by hired NDC bandits. The list of NDC violent machinery and its atrocities is endless.
The news that people are dying as a result of apparent lawlessness is disturbing and a further tragic reminder of how low Ghana has sunk under President Mills’ administration. We are calling on government to call an end to the spate of lawlessness and display of wanton aggression by NDC operatives.
Furthermore, we are concerned with the utterances of the Founder of the party, Ex-President JJ Rawlings who is without doubt whipping tensions and sentiments of the NDC Youth into frenzy by urging them to connect with the adrenalin that brought them into power. Ex President JJ Rawlings notes that Ghana is in a state of emergency and that the Youth must act by confronting its own government on issues he outlined for them.
We will rather the Ex-President advice NDC Youth on the responsible way of channelling their grievances and acceptable ways of talking to government. Civil disobedience must not be the mode of communicating to their own government. By his words, Ex-President Rawlings is unnecessarily heightening political tensions in the country. It is unfortunate that the President, Prof Mills owes his former boss an ominous debt of gratitude and continuous to kowtow to him even in the face of such gross provocation. This is no good for our country, Mr President.
Someone in the NDC must have the wherewithal to tell Ex-President Rawlings some home truths. Probably what Ex-President Rawlings must be doing is requesting the Youth of NDC, since it is now clear that President Mills father for all was nothing but a mere election rhetoric, to take up some of the phantom 1.6million jobs created by Ablakwa Okudzeto Ministry of Propaganda. That will stop them from looting toilets and smashing cars of party chairmen ostensibly for lack of jobs.
In our quest for peace and tranquillity in the country, we of the CDF denounce these calls to frenzy and heighten tension by Ex President JJ Rawlings and call on NDC Youth to use only acceptable mediums within the party structure as the avenue for airing their numerous and legitimate disenchantment with the President Mills administration. NDC activists, even in the face of the lies of the President Mills-led NDC administration, must act within the confines of the law in their acts of absolute desperation.
NDC Lawyers and CHRAJ
A group of NDC lawyers led by Ato Dadzie have begun a campaign to debase and malign our judicial system. They are doing this with the connivance of the NDC government as these lawyers are being supported with the entire Attorney-General machinery and state media notably the Daily Graphic given them front page publicity anytime they cough.
The gravity of the violations of will rather see being perpetuated in the country is such that were it to succeed, will be a bleak transformation of the whole judicial system. It will not just be a matter of the present government but will take our current democratic and constitution dispensation backwards. How can CHRAJ be muzzled by anyone using such muddled, frivolous and vexations arguments? CHRAJ is a body set up by our current constitution and no one can undermine its powers.
We of the CDF believe in human rights for all and that is why we brought the Mabey and Johnson bribery case to CHRAJ where thankfully they are having the benefit of a public hearing that gives them an opportunity to prove that they are no bribe takers. We of he CDF want a determination to the effect that these former Ministers and public servants are indeed corrupt, took bribes, abused their office and there was a clear case of conflict of interest. However, what seems to be missing from the defence team is any interest in pursuing justice but using state institutions they are able to manipulate to perpetrate their selfish interest especially as they have a sympathetic party in power and therefore can afford to be making trite and spurious arguments.
Threat to Rule of Law and Civil Liberties
We of the CDF will not stand aloof and see the collapse of the rule of law in the country. A study of any one country where freedom of expression is solidly entrenched demonstrates the link between the law and the protection of free speech so we will continue to speak out. We will not be cajoled; the culture of fear will not be strive in the country anymore. We will continue to expose any attempts to circumvent the rule of law in the country. Any attempts to interfere with this right, either by the NDC government and or their cohorts who do not wish ideas that they are opposed to being expressed, will be defeated by the operation of the law
We have faith in the Supreme Court of Ghana where the idea of defending the individual, as against the all-powerful government is considered a paramount duty of the court. The foundation for the defence of individual freedoms has been laid and no persons or political party can turn that back. Daily Graphic can try it but we can assure them that the days where Gyewu-Kyem of Ghanaian Times collaborated with General Acheampong to decimate individual freedoms are past and we of the CDF will protect individual liberties even at the peril of our lives.
The CDF want to caution Ghanaians to note that if the constitution and the law fail there is nothing to protect anyone including journalists of Graphic and others who wish to express their opinions freely.
NDC and its unbridled Human Abuse
Sadly, for all the dreams we had for our country, in just under two years of the NDC administration have been reduced to rubble. The NDC have trampled on human rights with impunity, nurtured unbridled corruption and squandered public money like they are not going to seek re-election in 2012. Indeed, the conduct of the NDC has been like a small child suddenly let loose in a toyshop. That analogy is perhaps inapt because no child could have caused so much insecurity as the NDC have, or trampled on the rights of its citizens as the NDC does.
Ghanaians are despairing because they are being held at ransom by a lawlessly NDC and their agents with no end in sight. The NDC bandits are not being brought before any judges. They are not being charged and convicted for any crimes.
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We of the CDF hold on to the fact that terrorism is a threat against our society. We therefore call on the President Mills administration to stop acts that damage our own democracy and judicial institutions. There are certain principles on which there can be no compromise. Fair trial is one of those, which is the reason we of the CDF will not want any political interference in the case we have brought about at CHRAJ and any attempts to do so, except using the due process of law, will be resisted.
Furthermore, we of the CDF note that even the most elementary forms of criminal law are under threat in Ghana today. People are receiving death threats. In any country where the rule of law operates, no sensible person would dare to make death threats because they would know what consequences they may be. However, in Ghana NDC activities are taking to the streets and making death threats with impunity. Perhaps this is the clearest indication of how bad things have become in Ghana today. The only alternative left to the likes of Hudu Welvis is either to quit his job as MCE or leave the area as he has been declared a persona non grata in his own district by NDC functionaries.
Sense of fatalism rages on in Ghana today
This sense of fatalism in having no alternative but to wait for the death threats to be carried out, demonstrates how frightening life has become in Ghana today. Day follows night and it is with the same certainty that death follows death threats. The threats by NDC hoodlums are carried out in broad daylight. The executors of the threats have nothing to fear; they do not need secrecy. Next, no investigations have been carried out and no one arraigned before court for making these threats and indeed for actually carrying them out. In fact, we of the CDF cannot see any serious investigation will ever be carried out in these matters unless we make demands as citizens.
Again, the President, Vice President, Minister or top NDC official has neither remotely called for an investigation of any shape or form into these threats nor have they reassured Ghanaians of their safety in carrying out and going about their daily business of live.
Time to act is now
Thus, it is time for the Ghanaian fighting for civil liberties and human rights to be alert to the creeping state of lawlessness gradually becoming a new phenomenon in our country, Ghana and especially in our body politics.
If the current spate of lawlessness goes unchecked, Ghana will become a nation that provides no protection to the individual. It is our belief that it is by addressing these central issues that our civil liberties will be guaranteed in Ghana. This calls for a long haul effort as we have no other options.
We of the CDF will continue in our endeavour and effort in creating here in Ghana a world-leading civil organisation on shaping and developing more effective government, contribute to developing effective organs of administration of human rights and justice and developing strategies towards that end that will take our country forward.
Long Live Ghana
Freedom and Justice will prevail
Thank you for your co-operation
Signed
Michael Omari Wadie 0242270877
Nana Prempeh Agyemang 0266123606
Marlon Anipa 00447930427314 or 0546752052
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