NDC, NPP call for calm - after meeting with security chiefs
Security chiefs have held a meeting with the chairmen of the two main political parties to try and find ways to reduce the rising tension in the national body politic after the December 7 elections.
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After the meeting, the National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Dr Kwabena Adjei, and his New Patriotic Party (NPP) counterpart, Mr Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, agreed on the need to encourage their supporters to respect the peace and stability of the country.
They also made it clear that the peace of the country was paramount, hence the need for all to ensure that no group or persons disturbed the peace Ghana was noted for.
The two parties agreed especially to call their supporters to order, so that peace would prevail in the country.
Thursday's meeting was attended by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Paul Tawiah Quaye; the Chief of the Defence Staff, Lt General Augustine Peter Blay; the National Security Coordinator, Lt Col Larry Gbevlo-Lartey (Retd); the Accra Regional Police Commander, Commissioner of Police (COP) Mr Patrick Timbilla, and the Director of Police Operations, Commissioner of Police (COP) Mr John Kudalor.
The meeting discussed security matters after the declaration of the results of the December 7 general election.
Shortly after the meeting, Mr Obetsebi-Lamptey told journalists that the parties had agreed that lawlessness must be regarded as a breach of the law and that the police should deal with anybody who would be lawless.
Already, he said, the leadership of the NPP had asked its rank and file to remain calm as it prepared to go to court to challenge the results of the elections as declared by the Electoral Commission (EC).
Notwithstanding that, he said, the NPP would continue to educate its supporters on preserving Ghana’s peace.
“We all agreed that there should be peace in Ghana,” he said.
Dr Adjei, for his part, said all the parties understood that Ghana was bigger and greater than any political party or group of individuals.
According to him, everybody was concerned about the current state of affairs after the declaration of the election results, hence the need to meet to ensure that the stability and security of the country was maintained.
“We agreed on the need for peace and security of the country,” he said, and gave an assurance that the NDC would talk to its supporters on the need to conduct their activities in a peaceful manner.
Dr Adjei said although he had sent messages to NDC supporters across the country to be calm and peaceful, he would do that again.
Last Sunday, the Chairman of the EC, Dr Kwadwo Afari Gyan, declared that President Mahama had polled 5,574,761 votes, representing 50.70 per cent of the total valid votes cast, to beat his closest challenger, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), who obtained 5,248,898 votes, representing 47.74 per cent of the valid votes cast.
Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom of the Progressive People’s Party (PPP) secured the third position with 64,362 votes, representing 0.59 per cent, followed by Dr Henry Lartey of the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP) with 38,223 votes, representing 0.35 per cent, and Hassan Ayariga of the People’s National Convention (PNC), who obtained 24,617 votes, representing 0.22 per cent of the valid votes cast.
Dr Michael Abu Sakara Foster of the Convention People’s Party (CPP) obtained 20,323 votes, representing 0.18 per cent, followed by Mr Jacob Osei Yeboah, the independent candidate, with 15,201 votes, representing 0.14 per cent, and Akwasi Addai of the United Front Party (UFP) with 8,877 votes, representing 0.08 per cent of the valid votes cast.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, supporters of the NPP gathered at the Obra Spot at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle in Accra to protest against the results as declared by the EC.
Story by Emmanuel Bonney