NDC Shooting: Deal 'ruthlessly' with gunmen – Haruna Iddrisu

The law must deal with the perpetrators of the shooting incident that occurred during a meeting between some national executives and regional executives of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Kumasi on Monday, 18 February 2019 which led to the death of one person, Mr Haruna Iddrisu, Minority Leader in Parliament has said.

He told journalists in parliament on Tuesday, 19 February that: “I wasn’t in Kumasi, so, I'm not able to speak to the facts of the matter than to express worry and concern about the creeping insecurity in the country.

“Many of you will recall when the president appeared before parliament in one of the State of the Nation addresses. I reminded him that he was the Commander-In-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces and not the Invincible Forces. It was to send this message that as president, his primary responsibility is the security of the citizens of Ghana and law enforcement, and, therefore, we need to be up and doing.”

He added: “In the matter of happenings in Kumasi, the law must deal swiftly, decisively and ruthlessly with any person associated with the event.

“It was unfortunate that it happened, we spoke to the General Secretary to know about his safety and the National Chairman and others.”

Background

A gunman identified by eyewitnesses as a member of vigilante group The Hawks, which is affiliated to the NDC, shot at fellow party members during a regional executive meeting in Kumasi.

The shooter, according to the eyewitnesses, shot the first victim thrice – first in the thigh, then in the belly and on the back as he fell to the ground.

Reports reaching ClassFMonline.com indicate that members of The Hawks pitched camp on one side of the meeting while members of the NDC task force also pitched camp on the opposite side.



One of the members of The Hawks began throwing tantrums that something was going to happen, according to the eyewitnesses, and the victim from the task force approached him and said nothing was going to happen.

It resulted in heated verbal exchanges and the member of The Hawks pulled a gun and shot the victim from the NDC task force, the eyewitnesses said.

The victim was rushed to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital where he died.

Another victim shot by the same gunman has sustained injuries but still alive and in critical condition.

The suspect is currently on the run.

Meanwhile, the party has issued a statement claiming gunmen on a motorbike drove by and fired at its supporters and sped off.

The statement, signed by the party’s regional secretary Kwame Zu, said: “Some men on motorbike wielding guns attacked a gathering outside, shot indiscriminately and sped off”.

Read the NDC’s full statement below:

NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS – ASHANTI REGIONAL SECRETARIAT

OFFICIAL STATEMENT ON INCIDENT AT THE ASHANTI REGIONAL OFFICE ON MONDAY FEBRUARY 18, 2019

The Ashanti Regional Secretariat of the National Democratic Congress regrets to report that an unfortunate incident occurred at the party’s regional office today, Monday 18th February 2019.



The regrettable incident occurred while a meeting between the National Chairman, The General Secretary, a Deputy General Secretary and the Regional Executive Committee were ongoing. Some men on Motorbike wielding guns attacked a gathering outside, shot indiscriminately and sped off.

We regret to announce that one of the two men who were shot has passed on and the other is in a critical condition at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH). The National Chairman, General Secretary and the Regional Executive Committee have visited him at the hospital.

We request the police to carry out a thorough investigation into the matter and bring the perpetrators to book.

Signed,

Kwame Zu (Regional Secretary)

18th February 2019