NPP youth seizing offices ‘regrettable’ – Obiri Boahen

The Deputy General Secretary of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Obiri Boahen, has condemned the unlawful takeover of public institutions by persons believed to be affiliated to the party.

On Monday January 9, 2017, some young men believed to be NPP supporters attempted to take over the Passport Office in Accra, the office of the National Disaster and Management Organisation (NADMO), and some other state institutions.

However, speaking to Class News’ Emefa Apawu on 505 on Class91.3FM, Nana Obiri Boahen condemned the behaviour of the young men, describing it as “unfortunate and regrettable”.

He dissociated the NPP from the acts perpetrated by the young men.

“In all honesty, they were acting on…their own. The leadership of the party has not encouraged, supported, facilitated, [or] fast tracked these activities. So with due respect, they were acting within the frolic of their own and the party leadership. We disassociate our self from what is happening. It is unfortunate, it is regrettable,” he stated.

“Nana Akufo-Addo, before he was sworn in, stated categorically that the party will not tolerate and encourage this. Therefore, to all intents and purposes, I’m stating unreservedly that the party has no hand at all in this unfortunate and regrettable incident.”

Nana Obiri Boahen advised NPP supporters not to repeat the actions of supporters of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) when they won power in 2009.

“Let me use this opportunity to communicate this to our supporters that two wrongs do not make one right. In 2009 all of us were living witnesses to the outrageous things committed by our colleagues in the NDC, but for goodness sake, we are law abiding individuals… So with due respect and [in the] supreme interest of justice, I appeal to all of you to exercise a modicum of restraint… there is no need for us to retaliate at all,” he stressed.