Let’s not risk 2016 victory with violence – Akufo-Addo

Former presidential candidate of the main opposition New Patriotic Party, Nana Akufo-Addo, has said Tuesday’s mayhem at the party’s headquarters in the national capital, risks compromising the NPP’s electoral fortunes in the next elections.

“I want to appeal to all NPP supporters and officials to remain calm and focused, and desist from actions that might undermine the unity of the party and compromise our chances for success in 2016”, the two-time candidate said in a statement he signed and copied to StarrFMonline.com.

“We are all members of one family and we should find a way to deal with our issues in a satisfactory manner”, the former Attorney General urged.

An angry mob of gun-toting and machete-wielding youth stormed the party’s headquarters and disrupted a press conference that was being addressed by Chairman Paul Afoko and General Secretary Kwabena Agyapong.

The intervention of dozens of Police Officers averted a bloody clash.

The mob was protesting against some recent changes made at the party’s Communication Directorate by the General Secretary and the Chairman, which some party Stalwarts and members of the Steering Committee have described as “unilateral”.

In his statement, Akufo-Addo said like all well-meaning members of the New Patriotic Party, "I had noticed with deep regret the events that took place at the Headquarters. It ended in unhappy and regretful incidents of violence”.

“I urge all NPP members to promote the things that bring us together and eschew those that seek to divide us. We must, always, be guided and guarded constantly by an uncompromising sense of unity, fellowship and greater purpose”, he said.