Stoning Akufo-Addo wrong - Irbard Ibrahim

The hurling of stones at the flag bearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, is wrong and underpins the need for more public education on how to conduct politics in a decorous and mutually respectful way, Irbard Ibrahim, Security Analyst and Peace Ambassador, has said.

On Wednesday October 5, an unidentified person in the crowd at an NPP rally at Osu hurled a missile at the opposition leader.

Mr Akufo-Addo was on the second leg of his tour of the Greater Accra Region which earlier took him to Alajo in the Ayawaso Central constituency and subsequently to Osu Klottey Korle on Wednesday, October 5.

The three-time presidential aspirant had told party faithful of the need to vote out President Mahama and the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) following their alleged mismanagement of the economy and to give him a chance to become president to reverse the hardship foisted on Ghanaians by the government.

But as the 72-year-old began to plead with supporters to also vote for the NPP’s parliamentary aspirant for the area, Philip Addison, he was compelled to pause his delivery, turning to complain to those beside him on the platform that someone had hit him with a stone.

“Someone just threw a stone at me, why?” he asked. But he quickly resumed his delivery, saying: “No problem, this is our politics in Ghana.”

Irbard Ibrahim, in a statement issued on Friday October 7, said: “Even though the sad episode was not life-threatening to the statesman, I condemn such an act regardless of who was behind it. I call for dignified treatment of all presidential and parliamentary candidates who have sacrificed their lives, exposed their families to criticism, and have invested time and energy to serve this great Republic.

“I also announce that God-willing, I will attend the NPP's manifesto launch in Accra as an independent observer just as I did the NDC's campaign launch in Cape Coast. As we all get ready for the general election in two months' time, let's all renew our commitment to the peace, security, and stability of our motherland Ghana.”