I won’t shed blood for power - Mahama

President John Dramani Mahama has indicated he will not subscribe to any form of bloodshed in order to secure the presidency for another four-year term.

“I am a unifier. I am a person who does not support the shedding of any Ghanaian blood for any kind of political power,” he said in an interview with Ural Radio, a local radio station in the Upper East Region.

Mr Mahama further explained: “Alhaji Adam (a former New Patriotic Party regional chairman for Upper East) was a contractor. He was working and unfortunately the acid attack took away his life and today his wife is a widow and his children have been left fatherless. There was another attack in Kumasi where someone was stabbed, a young man, and he lost his life. These are all unacceptable practices and nobody should die because someone wants political power.”

Some clashes have been reported ahead of the December 7 elections, with members of both the NDC and the opposition NPP engaging in a scuffle at the Nima residence of the flag bearer of the NPP, Nana Akufo-Addo.

The US, UK, and the European Union (EU) condemned the violence.

Skirmishes were also reported at Asokore in the Eastern Region where many individuals got injured with cars and other properties being vandalised as members of two parties, who were on separate health walks simultaneously, attacked one another.

Without a direct reference to any incident, Mr Mahama stated: “I have told my people to do as I do and as I say.”

He was of the view that as a leader, the persona one portrays is what the followers will emulate. “I tell them (NDC members) to resist provocation. Your duty is just to go and vote and after 5pm you can go back and witness the counting,” he said.

“So, all other leaders must make these same commitments to peace… I believe that all other political parties must make the same commitment.”