Stop destroying our paraphernalia – NDC to NPP

The main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), has accused the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) of destroying paraphernalia belonging to the NDC in the Ablekuma West Constituency.

A statement signed by Jerry Johnson, the Greater Accra Regional Communications Officer, on Tuesday, 10 March 2020 said the destruction was perpetrated by “NPP surrogate groups under the guise of the Municipal Assembly routine Operation.”

The statement said: “Information available to us with pictorial evidence indicates that the operation of ripping off all NDC flags and signboards were taken by the infamous members of the SWAT Operatives allegedly acting as a charade for the Invincible Forces.

“Much as we take cognizance of the law which compels all citizens to obtain a permit before erecting a signpost, it has remained a convention that political party paraphernalia are allowed to hang on Signposts in every election year."

“We also wish to remind the public of the established procedure which requires the Municipal Assembly to notify political parties to remove their signposts within a specific period during and after every election."

"Reference to ACT 936 of the Local Government Act 2016 therefore, we believe the Assembly had no locus to warrant arbitrary destruction of political party paraphernalia on our streets in this time."

“Even though the government of Akufo Addo, ever since it assumed power in January 2017 has gained notoriety in its abuse of Executive Power, this level of political intolerance exhibited at the Ablekuma West Constituency is offensive, vindictive, an affront to the principles of Rule of Law and a danger to our fledgling democracy."

“We, therefore, wish to register our resentment against this act of political persecution and roundly condemn the wanton disregard for the rights of other citizens to engage in politics from opposition. We further wish to call on the general public, civil society groups, the clergy etc to stand up against any form of violence, that is orchestrated to dim the sanctity of the forthcoming elections and plunge our nation into an abyss."

“In conclusion, the president is hereby expected to pull the reins of his operatives to desist from this act of barbarism on the innocent members of the NDC and Ghanaians as a whole. Failure to do same withing the period expected will leave us with no option than to execute a firm resolution passed by the Greater Accra Regional Secretariat to physically resist any act of terror visited on the innocent people of Ghana."