NPP-USA Press Statement

STATEMENT OF RECENT POLITICAL EVENTS IN GHANA-PRESS RELEASE

The NPP-USA National Executive Committee has been monitoring closely with dismay, the creeping dictatorship of President Mills' NDC Government.

Several members of our great NPP-USA have written about the deteriorating security atmosphere in Ghana since President Mills and the NDC took over power in January 2009. Instead of the Mills administration concentrating on the many economic hardships facing Ghanaians, the Mills' NDC government has used the BNI, an investigative organ created for national security matters, to engage in political witch-hunt of its opponents, with mainly former NPP officials, and the hard-working foot soldiers as targets. The BNI and other paramilitary forces are essentially policing the state. We strongly and unequivocally CONDEMN such constitutionally subversive actions.

The Mills’ government has, without proper legal recourse, unilaterally seized vehicles belonging to the former NPP flag bearer Nana Akufo-Addo, and even vehicles belonging to private individuals such as the Managing Director of Barclay's Bank (Gh) Ltd. We believe that such a conduct by unauthorized operatives of the NDC party are atrocious violations of individual rights of ownership, and MUST end immediately.

The NPP-USA wants to call the attention of the entire GHANAIAN and the international communities to the constant harassments of both senior members, and the dedicated foot soldiers of our great NPP party. Recently, the former first lady, Mrs. Theresa Kufour's residence was descended upon by nearly two-dozen armed operatives of the Mills NDC administration led by Comrade Portophy. Mrs Kufour was subjected to undue ridicule and unspeakable harassments by the said operatives of the NDC, while former President Kufour was out of the country. The former first family’s long term residence was reportedly slated for demolition by the unrestrained NDC operatives. We members of the NPP-USA once again want to register our extreme displeasure of such "juvenile” heavy-handed political intimidation tactics. The stated reason by the operative was to check for possible flood zone violation of the personal residence of the former first couple. The stated reason for the "visit" at the former first family’s residence, and the subsequent media reports thus far, did not require over a couple dozen armed men, descending upon the 76 year-old former first lady. The NDC operatives actions were demeaning, and beyond common decency. WE members of NPP-USA demand immediate halt to such actions.

Additionally, we members of the NPP-USA want to FOCUS the attention of the world on the UNLAWFUL detention, barraging interrogations at secret, undisclosed locations by faceless, nameless NDC operatives. The case in point underscores the inhumane treatment of Mr. Kwadwo Mpiani, an elderly gentleman, and the former Chief of Staff of President Kufour, at the hands of President Mills’ NDC "authorities" who seem to be operating outside the established legal norms. Mr. Mpiani was "invited" by BNI without court warrant, taken to or inappropriately held against his will at an undisclosed location, and questioned for nine hours, under undue harsh conditions without the benefit of his counsel. Thus far President Mills, a legal scholar, has not offered any explanation for such measures, and has failed to question the unconstitutional and illegal tactics of some of the un-seeming elements of his party. If such tactics continue, the Mills government risks appearing to be a rogue government, unfit to govern. We members of NPP-USA believe Ghana deserves a better government than Mills’ presidency has demonstrated thus far.

Furthermore, we members of the NPP-USA believe that, in spite of any questions the Mills government may have for Mr. Steven Asamoah-Boateng to answer, he has the constitutional and legal rights to travel. As at the time of writing this piece no charges have been filled against Mr. Asamoah-Boateng, and as such, he should have been allowed to travel. The treatment of Mr. Asamoah-Boateng incidentally may have led to the death of his mother upon hearing of the ordeal her son and his family sustained at the international airport.

Again we want to bring the attention of the entire nation and the international community to the many POLITICALLY MOTIVATED MURDERS, and attempted murders of NPP foot soldiers. The NPP polling agent, Mr Akwasi Boahen, 37, at Old Ayaase in Fomena Constituency in Ashanti Region was murdered. The suspect is an NDC activist, one Kwadwo Kwakye, the local NDC Youth Organizer, who is presently at large. (www.modernghana.com/news/205377/1/npp-organizer-killed.html). Again, Mr Daniel Kwame Amoh, the NPP organizer at Techiman B/A was allegedly beaten to death by the son of the NDC Chairman, now MCE for the same district, Mr Alex Kyeremeh. (source daily guide. http://dailyguideghana.com/newd/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3805&Itemid=243). On June 18, 2009, the NPP constituency executive at Dome Kwabenya in Greater Accra Region, Mr Poku Baah , was murdered by unknown assailants.(http://www.gbcghana.com/news/26578detail.html). We can all recall the attempted murder of one Frank Appiah aka Appiah "Stadium", a popular serial caller of radio stations, by a well known NDC activist Linford Owuo aka "C.D." The prosecuting attorney essentially quashed the Appiah Stadium's case, and the suspect now walks freely. (http://www.ghanamma.com/latest-news/5687-appiah-stadium-attacker-caged.html) Ghana has been a beacon of peace and tranquility in Africa, and it is the wish of all well-meaning Ghanaians to keep it that way. However, it should not be lost on any of us that the road on which we are currently traveling is similar to those traveled by countries such as Rwanda, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Kenya, Ethiopia, and currently Sudan. We all know where those roads led. This is why we strongly call upon the Mills administration to immediately compel the BNI to operate within the boundaries of the law, as was the case with the former Kufuor administration. NPP-USA has no qualms about former officials who may have broken the law or abused their powers being brought to justice. But the process must be civil and adherent to the rule of law.

We want to assure the entire nation and the international communities that NPP as political party wants to work to achieve peace in Ghana through democratic means. We will in tandem with the parent party in Ghana to address the ongoing worsening political climate in Ghana. Please stay tuned, remain vigilant, report any news, and spread HOPE for a better Ghana under the next NPP administration.

If there are any lessons to be learned, the events we have witnessed should remind ALL of us to work HARD to elect our next NPP flag-bearer as President of Ghana. PERIOD! We need to recapture power to end the atrocities of NDC.

Nana Agyei Yeboah Chairman, NPP-USA. Philip A. BannorGeneral Secretary, NPP-USA