Arrest persons vandalising state property - Govt directs
President John Dramani Mahama has directed the security agencies to deploy personnel across the country to arrest any person caught vandalising government property or attacking innocent people.
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A statement signed by the Minister of Communications, Dr Edward Omane Boamah, said the directive followed attacks on supporters of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and government installations by some supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
President Mahama, according to the minister’s statement, was disappointed in the NPP leadership for failing to bring their supporters to order.
"President John Dramani Mahama expressed disappointment at the inability or unwillingness of the leadership of the NPP to call its rampaging supporters to order, following a series of attacks on innocent citizens and supporters of the ruling NDC.
"Some supporters of the NPP have also attacked government installations across the country," it said.
Reports from Accra, Kumasi and Sunyani speak of acts of vandalism allegedly perpetrated by supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) after the Electoral Commission (EC) had declared the party’s presidential candidate, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, winner of the 2016 presidential election.
In Accra, Musah Yahaya Jafaru reports that some supporters of the NPP have allegedly destroyed posters of President John Dramani Mahama and presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) at the Kwame Nkrumah Interchange.
From Fiapre, Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah writes that the tollbooth at Fiapre, near Sunyani, was set ablaze last Friday moments after the announcement of the results of the general election.
Workers at the booth, according to eyewitnesses, were chased away before it was set ablaze.
It is believed that hundreds of cedis got burnt during the incident.
Barely 48 hours after Nana Akufo-Addo was declared winner of the just-ended presidential election, there had been reports of supporters of the NPP taking over some state properties being managed by people believed to be members of the NDC, writes Kwadwo Baffoe Donkor from Kumasi.
The action was believed to be a reprisal of similar attack that befell members of the NPP when the NDC assumed office in 2009.
Meanwhile, the NPP has also condemned the alleged acts, saying it will not condone or sanction such actions.
“We condemn, in no uncertain terms, these distasteful occurrences, if true, and wish to state that the NPP will not condone or sanction such actions,” the party said in a statement signed and issued by its acting General Secretary, Mr John Boadu.
NPP condemns
The NPP said its attention had been drawn to reports of alleged acts of violence and vandalism being perpetrated allegedly against some political opponents of the NPP in the aftermath of the declaration of the results of the 2016 elections.
“We urge the Ghana Police Service to enforce the laws of the land and bring to book any person, irrespective of their political affiliations, found to be perpetrating acts of violence against any person,” it said.
It said while its victory had understandably led to widespread jubilation among party supporters, sympathisers and, indeed, members of the general public, it was appealing to its supporters and all to be guided by the statement made by the President-elect of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, in his acceptance speech on December 9 in which he entreated supporters “to respect the peace and the property and lives of everybody, especially those of our political opponents”.
“We are the party of the rule of law and we should act accordingly, with magnanimity in our moment of victory.
“All of us have a responsibility to ensure that the dignified, peaceful exercise of their sovereign power that the Ghanaian people manifested on 7th December, which has enhanced significantly the image of our country, be protected in this period of transition from one government to another,” the NPP said.
Police warning
In a related development, the Ghana Police Service has said that it has come to its attention that some people are attacking supporters of the NDC in various parts of the country.
Furthermore, the police said, there were reports of excessive jubilation by NPP supporters across the country.
“Consequently, the police are calling on the general public, especially supporters of the NPP, to desist from engaging in any acts that will violate the rights of other people and also breach the peace prevailing in the country after the polls,” they said.
The police further entreated party supporters in jubilant mood to go about their celebration in moderation.
“The Police Administration wishes to caution those who are engaging in acts of vandalism and rowdyism to desist, as police officers who have been deployed to maintain law and order will not hesitate to arrest and prosecute those who break the laws of the land,” the police warned.