NPP, NDC mayhem ‘belongs to lunatic fringe’ - Franklin Cudjoe

The founding president of IMANI Ghana, Franklin Cudjoe, has condemned the violence engaged in by members of the two major political parties over the weekend.

On Sunday, November 13, there were clashes between the supporters of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP), who were embarking on simultaneous health walks in front of the Nima residence of the presidential candidate of the NPP, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. There were a few gunshots during the confrontation. Both parties have accused each other of masterminding the violence.

For instance, Nana Akomea, NPP Director of Communications, issued a statement accusing NDC executives of initiating the violence.

On the other hand, Kofi Adams, National Organiser of the NDC, blamed Mr Akufo-Addo for the cause of the clash.

But Mr Cudjoe sees what happened as outrageous. Expressing his displeasure on his Facebook wall on Monday, November 14, Mr Cudjoe said: “Political hooliganism, were it to be countenanced at all, should never extend beyond positive chants for preferred candidates in a race to fisticuffs, drawing of daggers, guns, swords and hurling of stones. Those acts belong in the order of the lunatic fringe. Let us be very careful how we provoke other competitors in a race that is overly tense already,” he indicated.

The country heads to the polls on December 7 to elect a president and legislators for the next four-year term. Members of the two parties have been engaging in frantic efforts to canvass votes to make sure that their party wins by any legal means.

Mr Cudjoe also questioned why the NDC supporters massed up in front of Mr Akufo-Addo’s house and went as far as pelting the private property of the NPP flag bearer with stones.

“And by the way, what in God's name were the NDC supporters doing gallivanting about Nana Addo's house…? Does walking about, even if aimlessly in front of some one's house, mean you should be hurling stones and drawing swords and guns? This is an outrage and must be condemned,” he added.