Peace Council Chairman was misled over my boot-for-boot comment - Mahama

Former President John Dramani Mahama has observed that Reverend Emmanuel Asante, the Chairman of the National Peace Council was misled while reacting to his boot-for-boot comment by the journalist who interviewed him, MyNewsGh.com reports.

It would be recalled that In the run-up to the National Democratic Congress’ (NDC) flagbearer contest which former President John Dramani Mahama emerged victorious, while addressing NDC delegates in Adaklu Constituency of the Volta Region on Thursday, January 31 2019, Mr Mahama said the NDC will match the NPP boot-for-boot in the 2020 elections if the government attempts to intimidate and harass NDC supporters with violence.

”I want to sound a caution that NDC has a revolutionary root and when it comes to unleashing violence, no one can beat us to that. It is just that we are mindful of this country’s democracy and that is why we must be the first to respect it. That is why we are acting like a party that is docile and respecting the rule of law. But if we believe that the government cannot protect our people and we believe that the government is using its vigilante groups and illegal forces to intimidate and harass and injure our people, then we may have to advise ourselves”, he warned at the event covered by MyNewsGh.com‘s Volta Regional Correspondent.

But reacting to the comments in an interview, Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Asante asked former President John Dramani Mahama to apologise for a directive that did not go down well with NDC members who descended on him describing for showing bias over the matter.

Speaking at the thanksgiving service at Perez Chapel International on Sunday, 3 March 2019 in commemoration of successful flagbearer elections, Mr. Mahama disclosed that the Clergyman was misled by the host of the programme.

He explained” It was in the heat of the post-Ayawaso West Wuogon, the Chairman had been interviewed and in a way when I listen to that audio, the presenter misled him in many ways…if you listen to that audio again. And so on our side, we said as Chairman of the Peace Council the first thing you must do is to condemn the violence then after that, you look at what who said or what who didn’t say. But without condemning the violence the Presenter asked so what of President Mahama what he said boot-for-boot will you condemn it?

The Peace Council Chairman said I haven’t heard what he said and the Presenter said I can tell you on assurance he said it and that there are witnesses we can even bring the audio and play it to you. And the Peace Council Chairman said if he said it, then I think it was wrong. Then he pushes him again; so does he owe an apology to the nation? And he says well, as an ex-president if he said that, I believe he owes the nation an apology without condemning the violence. That was our problem. If you had condemned the violence and commented on what the former President said, that would be acceptable.