Ranking member on parliament’s Defence and Interior Committee, James Agalga, has condemned comments made by the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Bryan Acheampong, revealing that the IGP must necessarily ensure his arrest and prosecution.
According to him, his attention has been drawn to a statement made by Bryan Acheampong, the MP for Abetifi and Minister for Food and Agriculture on the 8th of April 2023, captured in a video that has been widely shared on social media. He revealed that the crux of the statement is that the NPP as a political party will never hand over political power to the NDC and will do anything possible to retain power in 2024.
“In view of the above, the dishonorable conduct of Bryan Acheampong poses a direct and grave threat to Ghana’s democracy and for which reason he must be held accountable. Consequently, we entreat the Inspector General of Police to as a matter of urgency arrest Bryan Acheampong and cause his prosecution for engaging in conduct which has the potential to undermine the peace and security of our country.”
James Agalga
Mr Agalga stated that if one unpacks Bryan Acheampong’s statement, two irresistible conclusions will be arrived at. In the first place, he noted that the NPP is “hell bent on subverting” the will of the Ghanaian people in order to perpetuate their stay in power even when they lose the 2024 presidential and parliamentary elections which is “almost certain given its abysmal performance in government and the pain, suffering and hardship they have inflicted upon Ghanaians”.
Additionally, he explained that the NPP is prepared to use violence to disrupt the impending elections if it becomes apparent that it will lose.
The conclusions drawn from Bryan Acheampong’s “ominous statement”, Mr Agalga highlighted, is manifested in the overall conduct of President Akufo-Addo’s government’s approach to issues bordering on the “impartiality and credibility” of the Electoral Commission moving in to the 2024 elections.
“The recent appointment by President Akufo-Addo of Dr Peter Appiahene, Hajia Salina Ahmed Tijani and Rev. Ofori Boateng who are known activists of the NPP is consistent with Bryan Acheampong’s effusion.”
James Agalga
Again, the ranking member on parliament’s Defence and Interior Committee stated that the propensity of the NPP to use violence to disrupt elections is echoed in Bryan Acheampong’s statement. Buttressing his point, he recounted that the disruption of of the Ayawaso West-Wuogon by-election by “hoodlums associated with the NPP is still fresh in our minds”.
“We were not surprised at all that the Emile Short Commission of Inquiry implicated Bryan Acheampong in its findings and recommendations. The killing of eight Ghanaians during the conduct of the 2020 presidential and parliamentary elections by NPP thugs who infiltrated the security services through back door recruitment in order to manipulate and to subvert the will of the electorate as was seen in the Techiman North constituency cannot be forgotten.”
James Agalga
Whilst unequivocally condemning Bryan Acheampong for his unguarded statement, Mr Agalga cautioned him and people of his ilk that the NDC shall not leave any stone unturned to ensure that Ghana’s current democratic dispensation which was birthed by it in 1992 is safeguarded even in the face of intimidation and adversity.
NDC condemns incendiary comments by Bryan Acheampong
Meanwhile, the General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Fifi Kwetey, has revealed that the comment by Minister of Food and Agriculture, Bryan Acheampong that the New Patriotic (NPP) will not hand over power to the NDC is a treasonable comment.
He indicated that the NDC has noted that Bryan Acheampong is the latest of high-ranking officials of the NPP to make such brazen statement that reveals the party’s deep-seated determination to subvert Ghana’s democratic order. He underscored that the comments by Bryan Acheampong truly demonstrate a patterned, well-rehearsed strategy of the New Patriotic Party going into the 2024 Presidential and Parliamentary elections.
It will be recalled that the minister for Food and Agriculture, who is the Member of Parliament for Abetifi, Bryan Acheampong, stated that the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) will never hand over power to the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), in 2025. He averred the party will ensure it remains in power, at all cost.
Addressing the NPP supporters at Kwahu Mpraeso, Bryan Acheampong continued that the current economic interventions by government has started yielding positive results, reflecting in the strength of the cedis and reduction in fuel prices. He was optimistic that when government secures the IMF deal by June or July, the economy will recover fully.
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