Editor-in-Chief of the New Crusading Guide Abdul-Malik Kweku Baaku Jr. has described as “reckless” and “irresponsible”, an allegation by the Chairman of the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Kofi Portuphy, that hooligans belonging to the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) are those behind the recent killing of police officers, especially the officer murdered at Lapaz in Accra a week ago.
“Very credible intelligence reaching us has it that a lot of the armed robbery and killing of our hardworking police officers is being done by militant goons associated with the NPP,” Mr Portuphy told journalists at a press conference in Accra.
According to him, the “nervous” government of President Nana Akufo-Addo and Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has turned the “peaceful” Ghana bequeathed to them by the Mahama administration into “a pool of blood” in just six months after taking office.
Mr Portuphy said lawlessness has been allowed to fester under the Akufo-Addo administration with careless abandon.
He said armed robbers now operate in broad daylight without any fear because the Akufo-Addo administration has emasculated the Ghana Police Service and other security agencies.
The NDC said the president gave his “tacit endorsement” to NPP’s “brigandry” to the extent that a senior police officer was assaulted by NPP thugs at the Flagstaff House without anyone being punished for it.
“The master plan is to weaken the resolve of the police and security services” and let armed robbers operate freely, Mr Portuphy said.
“Did we vote for change for us to be killed?” Mr Portuphy asked. “Is it not terrifying that our cherished police service is walking on its knees” to the extent that people are “gruesomely murdered” and no less a person than the Inspector General of Police appears helpless about the situation.
“A peaceful Ghana in only six months has suddenly become a pool of blood and innocent blood is being shed on daily basis,” Mr Porptuphy said.
Commenting on those claims on Multi TV’s Newsfile programme on Saturday, 22 July, Mr Baako told host Samson Lardy Anyenini that he was puzzled about why Mr Portuphy and the NDC chose to make such allegations in public rather than hand over that intelligence to the police.
“You have credible intelligence pointing to those behind the killings of our policemen and you chose not to give it to the police? You can talk about it if you want to but I think the key point is to deliver the information to the police and you don’t have it, you don’t do that, you go to a press conference and make such serious allegations. And indeed it is not true, it is not factual that this is the first time a political has some militants around them and have caused mayhem on the streets.”
According to him, there is evidence that about 15 police officers were killed between 2014 and 2016 when the NDC was in power and so wondered why the NDC would claim that the perpetrators behind the recent police murders are affiliated to the NPP.
