Director of Legal Affairs of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Abraham Amaliba, has revealed that the party will review the incidents which unfolded during its national executive elections held over the weekend.
Describing the violence and gunshot occurrences that erupted during the event as appalling and unacceptable, he indicated that the Chairman of the National Delegates Congress Planning Committee, Alex Segebefia and some members, identified signs of violence and deployed a number of policemen they preempted will be able to deal with the matter.
“We are having a planning committee meeting today to reveal the activities that took place in Cape Coast. These questions will be asked, and we will need the coordinators in that Cape Coast conference to tell us how all these things happened. We will have a review of the activities and then we will be able to appreciate why that happened. Was it because the numbers were not enough? I think that gunshots on that day gave us a very bad name.”
Abraham Amaliba
Mr Amaliba highlighted that indeed, much of the blame can be laid at the doorstep of the two contestants whose supporters caused the confusion. He explained that the conduct of their supporters has brought some shame to the party. Nonetheless, he noted that the over a hundred security personnel should have been able to deal with the matter.
“That is where I tend to question the security agencies. I thought that in such a situation where you have massive crowd, the security agencies will engage in searching before people are allowed in the venue. How did we get that wrong with 80 up to 100 security agencies? How come the guns were able to pass through?.. I think that it doesn’t portend well for us, but this is also a dress rehearsal for our Congress proper on Saturday. The lessons learnt here will be used to deal with emerging issues at the Congress. I think the Congress will be much more peaceful than what we saw.”
Abraham Amaliba
Despite the seeming poor light the disorderly conduct of some persons placed the party, Mr Amaliba noted that in his view, the delegates retained those who were already occupying those positions and newcomers came in to fill positions that the incumbents did not contest. This, he revealed, is a clear indication of confidence in the current executive.
“… So, the delegates went into the conference, both women and youth, with that mindset that let’s retain these people.”
Abraham Amaliba
NDC willing to co-operate with police to identify cuplrits
Commenting on the manhunt of sixteen persons suspected to have caused the disturbances at the NDC Youth and Womens’ Congress held at Cape Coast, Mr Amaliba stated that the party is ready to assist the police to fish out persons implicated in the crime.
“If the identities of those persons are known, the party I’m sure today, will assist in fishing those people out. We don’t stand for violence, that violence was not sanctioned… The party is not going to shield anybody for wrongdoing.”
Abraham Amaliba
Meanwhile, the Ghana Police Service has promised a bounty package of GHC10, 000 to persons who will provide meaningful lead to the sixteen persons identified.
Contained in a press statement, the Police reported that two rival groups violently clashed, throwing sticks, stones, blocks, chairs among others, causing injury to three persons and destruction of properties at the Congress. It noted that the pictures of the suspected persons have been published for the public to assist in this regard.
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