If this clueless government without any legitimacy could send armed policemen and soldiers to storm the Research Centre of a Political Party which was engaged in its legitimate business of gathering data for use in a court case then the country’s democratic credentials are doomed.
The senseless, barbaric and brutish action by such group of undisciplined political thugs of armed men under Government’s instruction is reminiscent of the era of late Head of State, Acheampong at the height of UNIGOV’s concept when he sent armed policemen to invade the Legon Campus to put the fear of God into the students. The unprofessional men exhibited their tomfoolery by inserting their truncheons into the private parts of some female students. The policemen and their officers who undertook the raid at the Party’s research centre should not be given any award for commonsense. By their quixotic act they have caused financial loss to the state and they and their sponsors ought to be surcharged for it. On the other hand, if they went there to intimidate the people, then I tell them to the face that they are incompetents. Let them use their arms and ammunition to protect the people. Let them use the arms and ammunition to disarm the CREW MEMBERS OF THE SIEZED Argentine ship. If they are professional policemen and men with two balls dangling between their legs as they would want us to believe, they should frisk the Argentines and take over their arms. Yes, if the policemen and women who raided the party office are indeed true sons of their fathers, they should face the Argentines and stop unleashing their venom on unarmed civilians.
May we know those EC officials who doctored figures at Dome-Kwabenya, Ablekuma West and other constituencies? They should be arrested and prosecuted in court on charges of high treason. Many years in prison without the option of a fine will be sufficient enough to reform them and send strong signals to those who might like to engage in similar misadventure in future. Such nation wreckers do not deserve clemency.
I was astounded to hear a member of the NDC Communication Team and lawyer by Profession, Kakraba Essamuel make certain incongruous statements and illogical arguments concerning NPP’s decision to go to court to reclaim their stolen mandate. “If anybody with two Regions wants to be President of this country, I from the Central Region will support a coup. Anybody who has been become President in Ghana wins at least 5 regions and thus Nana Addo cannot claim to have won the election with only two regions.” ‘The NPP and its appendages should not delude themselves into thinking that their agents in the law courts will help them, because Government will not allow them to perpetrate lawlessness in the country”
In the first place, there is nothing in our Constitution which says before a person becomes President, he must win a minimum number of Regions. If the person wins one Region and secures enough votes from other Regions to clinch the Presidency, so be it. What does he mean by NPP agents in the law courts? Who appointed Justice Henrietta Abban? NDC! Who jailed Tsatsu Tsikata? Justice Henrietta Abban!! There is nothing like NPP agents in the judiciary. When some NPP members took the EC to court on the creation of new constituencies and the court threw out the cases, NDC acclaimed the verdict as victory for the rule of law. They did not say the judges were NPP members. In the same mien, we should not apportion any political colorization if the electoral petition goes before the Supreme Court for hearing and the NPP comes out victorious..
At this juncture, I would like to state here that in line with the electoral coup that has just taken place, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa and Yaw Boateng Gyan recruited people to be trained in the act of cheating during the verification registration, voting and collation of results. And they made use of such people in the recently concluded elections. It is rather unfortunate that the numerous attempts I made to convince our party hierarchy of such nefarious plans were not given serious consideration. I made personal visits, numerous telephone calls, sent e-mails, and text messages, and many write ups but like I have already stated, my concerns were not given the urgent attention they deserved. If the elders of our party had listened to me at that time, we would not be in the situation we now find ourselves. At that time I did not know of the real name of Wofa at the NDC headquarters. I now know that Wofa is the same person as Yaw Boateng Gyan.
Like some school boys who have been caught stealing meat from their mother’s pot of soup, they will deny it. But what I have just stated is the simple truth. They will say, “Produce evidence”, which will be very difficult, but when push comes to push, the evidence will be produced. But if Honourable Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa is as honourable as he claims to be and if Yaw Boateng Gyan has conscience, the two will not deny this. If they are Christians and worship the true God of the universe, the three of us should make a public protestation of our belief and swear by the Holy Bible and we shall see what will happen within Seven Days. For we serve a Living God who will give unto every individual on earth what he or she deserves.
I have thrown a challenge to Okudzeto Ablakwa and Yaw Boateng Gyan. Will the duo accept it?
Now to the Observer Missions particularly those of ECOWAS and the African Union. The Leader, Chief Matthew Okikiade Aremu Obasanjo Olusegun, says the elections were free and fair. Therefore all concerns should be brushed aside. This “free and fair” in his personal dictionary is anathema to the democratic principles of the civilized world.
Those so called observers chose to stay in the confines of their air-conditioned hotels without going personally to the polling stations, especially the remote areas to witness what was going on. When the Dome Kwabenya MP elect was shouting herself hoarse at the daylight robbery perpetrated against her and her party by the NDC where were the observers? The impasse took almost 17 hours to resolve. No member of the AU or ECOWAS went to the scene. It could have given them food for thought before writing their report.
Was it not Obasanjo who supported the incarceration of Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olabisi Abiola, the acclaimed winner of the freest and fairest election ever held in Nigeria? Again, if I may ask, was it not this same Olusegun Obasanjo who was President when Omiyale Omisore, former Deputy Governor of Osun State and later member of Obasanjo’s party (PDP) (then in detention in connection with the murder of Chief Bola Ige , Federal Attorney General and Minister of Justice) who did not fill nomination forms to contest any election but was elected to represent Osun in the Upper Legislative Chamber (Senate) in Abuja?
So when we talk of credibility and democratic credentials, Obasanjo doesn’t have any and should be the last person to talk of fairness in an election. Maybe he judged our election by the Nigerian standard which was in operation during his administration.
In all these instances, our security forces have been docile and inactive. Why have they not arrested those EC officials who have perpetrated constitutional coup against the country? What about Ras Mubarak who was alleged to have burnt official documents belonging to the EC at a collation Centre. Investigations should be conducted and if he is found culpable, the law should take its course. There should be no sacred cow anywhere. The security services should not be biased whilst discharging its duty. Investigations should also be conducted into the alleged stabbing of an NDC sympathizer and manhandling of some journalists on legitimate duty by some NPP members. This is what we expect the Security Services to do but obviously not to embark on a wild goose chase under the misguided conception of looking for ammunitions at a party’s office. If the culprits are found, they should be dealt with in accordance with the laws of the country. Our party, the Great Osono Party is a disciplined one and does not harbor scallywags, thugs and touts.
I wish to reiterate the fact that we have nothing against President Mahama winning the Presidency genuinely. If the court, in spite of the available evidence dismisses the case, the NPP will accept the verdict. In a similar mien, if the court rules in favour of our party, we expect the President to exhibit the same “magnanimity” by relinquishing any claim to the title. We should also not forget the fact that a man who ascends the throne by default exposes himself to spiritual attacks.
I would like to appeal for cool heads in both the NDC and the NPP to look at issues confronting the nation dispassionately and do the right thing to ensure that democracy thrives in this country. What is the international community doing about this reckless show of power by a cabal of self seeking politicians who are hell bent in using every means including even the unorthodox ones to remain in power? Is the International policeman aware of what is going on in this dear country of our birth? What about genuine democrats on the African Continent? The time has come for you not to turn a blind eye to what is happening in this country.
We are engaged in a bitter struggle between life and death, positive brain power against negative addled physical and muscular strength. Destiny is on our side but we must prepare ourselves for the future advancement of our Cause. We believe so much in strengthening our institutions. Oba a onim se orenkye wo aware ase no na se wotu bankye a onnua. A woman who knows her marriage will not last long is the one who uproots the cassava but refuses to replace it with another stick.
The New Patriotic Party is very optimistic that Ghana has a brighter future and we will not do anything untoward to destroy the strong foundation our forefathers have laid for us. Nevertheless we are dissatisfied with the biased officiating of Pontius Pilate and his team of Peace Council. Let no one talk of justice when Pharaoh and his people in their attempts to perpetuate themselves in power are desperately trying hard to reduce us to the status of hewers of wood and carriers of water in our country of birth. Let no one talk of peace when injustice has become the hallmark of this administration! And so to the courts we heading to as it are our only hope. It is our legitimate right and we shall pursue the matter to the last atom of our energy, no matter how long or short the journey might be.
We pray to the Almighty God to lead us amidst the encircling gloom. There is darkness everywhere and our destination is far from home. But we believe that the strong invincible hands of our Creator will see us through. And so to you I say, “Courage brother, do not stumble. Though thy path be as dark as night. There’s a star to guide the humble. Trust in God and do the Right”. The Battle is the Lord’s. Shout Alleluia! And I say A louder Amen to it!!
Daniel Danquah Damptey (Damptey_daniel@yahoo.com) 0243715297.
Copyright © 1994 - 2024 GhanaWeb. All rights reserved.
