Today In 2015: Hunt for Adams Mahama's killer - Akufo-Addo

Following the horrific murder of the NPP’s former Upper East Regional Chairman, Adams Mahama, the party’s presidential candidate at the time, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo called for justice for his murder.

The deceased, Adams Mahama who suffered an acid attack on May 20, 2015, by two unidentified men died a day after the attack.

Speaking at the funeral of Mr. Mahama at the Bolgatanga Jubilee Park, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo said, “Adams Mahama’s death is not just a big blow to the NPP or the Upper East Region alone, but the whole country’s democracy. There will be nowhere to hide for the perpetrators and they will surely be brought to book. The president has given the assurance and we will give the security agencies all that they require to do their work in getting justice for Adams Mahama.”

The NPP also set up a fund with an initial capital of GH¢100,000 to help support the family of the late Adams Mahama.

Read the full story originally published on June 16, 2007, on Ghanaweb

The 2016 presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has called on the family of the late Adams Mahama and members and supporters of the party, who are still in pain over the untimely death of the former Upper East Regional Chairman, to calm down and cooperate with the security agencies to continue doing their work towards the arrest of the killers of Adams Mahama.

According to him, the era the party finds itself is not good for name-calling and accusation of party people, especially when all hands are needed on deck to unite the party for victory in 2016.

Nana Addo said the police were so far doing well in their investigations and hoped they would not succumb to any political pressures of any kind, as they are poised to ensure that justice prevails at the end of the day.

The NPP presidential candidate was speaking at the final funeral rites of the late Adams Mahama at the Bolgatanga Jubilee Park, where hundreds of mourners from all walks of life had converged to bid their friend and compatriot a final farewell.

“Let me repeat what I said on the 23rd of May at the burial service of our late Regional Chairman, that the party will not be satisfied with anything short of justice for our late brother. We do not want ifs and buts, and we will count on the president’s assurance and what the Interior Minister, Mark Woyongo, has also said that the security agencies will ensure that the perpetrators are brought to book,” Nana said.

He called on all party faithful to exercise patience and cooperate with one another as the party works to unite itself to secure victory in 2016.

“I plead with you that in all we do, we treat the memory of Adams with dignity and reverence,” the NPP leader said.

Nana Akufo-Addo made a heartfelt appeal to the gathering, and to Ghanaians at large, to recognise and accept that violence cannot and should not be the manner of resolving political disputes.

“What is more, my friends, the concept of ‘an eye for an eye’ in dealing with wrongs will leave all of us blind. Let us be consoled by the fact that Adams has found peace with Allah; and let his legacy be one of peace in our community, in our party and in our country,” he stressed.

Nana Addo was accompanied by his running mate, Dr Mahamudu Bawunia; the NPP First Vice Chairman, Freddie Blay; Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen; NPP National Women’s Organiser, Otiko Djabah; Ken Ofori-Atta; Yaw Osafo-Maafo; CK Tedam, Chairman of the Council of Elders; Deputy Minority Leader, Dominic Nitiwul; the NPP Communications Director, Nana Akomea and other national and regional functionaries of the party.

Nana Akufo-Addo urged the NPP to go all out and win the 2016 general elections and make sure that Adams Mahama did not die in vain.

“The way in which we will not let his death be in vain is to rededicate ourselves to the struggle ahead—that is, the struggle to redeem our country and return her to the path of progress and prosperity. When we have done this and put the smiles back on the faces of all the poor and needy people that Adams took care of, only then would we have truly ‘avenged’ his death,” he added.

GH¢100,000 Fund

Nana Akufo-Addo announced the setting up of a fund, with an initial capital of GH¢100,000, for the upkeep of the family of the late Adams Mahama.

According to the NPP flagbearer, “In addition to the amount of GH¢43,000 that has been donated by the party to the family and the widow, and the GH¢90,000 that the regional chairmen have set up as a foundation for them, it is my responsibility to ensure that the party fund, as already promised, is established to take care of the education of the children and the maintenance of the widow. The initial capital is GH¢100,000. Additional contributions from sympathisers and well-wishers are, of course, welcome.”

Since the death of Adams Mahama, there have been uncountable testimonies about his generosity and how he went out of his way to care for the poor, the needy, the infirm, the old and the destitute.

These deeds, Nana Akufo-Addo said, would surely grant him a place among the elect of God in Jannah.

“The Prophet Muhammad (Peace be unto him) is reported to have said that ‘the one who looks after a widow or a poor person is like a mujahid who fights for Allah’s cause or like him who performs prayers all night and fasts all the day,’” Nana Addo noted.

The leader of the government delegation to the funeral and Minister of the Interior, Mark Woyongo, commended the people of the region for cooperating with the security services in their quest to apprehend the killers of Adams Mahama and gave the assurance that the perpetrators would be brought to book at all cost.

“Adams Mahama’s death is not just a big blow to the NPP or the Upper East Region alone, but the whole country’s democracy. There will be nowhere to hide for the perpetrators and they will surely be brought to book. The president has given the assurance and we will give the security agencies all that they require to do their work in getting justice for Adams Mahama,” he articulated.

Reading a tribute on behalf of the NPP in the Upper East Region, Lawyer Anthony Namoo, said the NPP in the region had pledged to work hard to achieve all the plans the late chairman set in motion towards the victory of the NPP in 2016.

“We also pledge to do whatever we can to ensure that the justice that you greatly deserve does come to pass. Your Maker created you with a bold spirit and as such the perpetrators of this heinous crime against your body will live in eternal guilt in their conscience,” Anthony Namoo underscored.