National Communications Officer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Sammy Gyamfi, has called on the Ghana Police Service to stop harassing one of its party’s activists who is being sought after by the security agency.
According to him, while the party does not subscribe to violence, except in cases of self-defense, it cannot overlook the genuine sentiment and frustration of people who feel helpless in the face of “incessant and unprovoked attacks and killings” under this Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government.
“The Ghana Police Service must stop harassing this innocent NDC activist, who clearly spoke out of the pain he and other NDC supporters have suffered in the hands of NPP thugs in the Ashanti Region over the years and rather, focus on arresting NPP bandits and terrorists who have attacked a Court of competent jurisdiction in Kumasi and have actually maimed and killed several innocent Ghanaians.”
Sammy Gyamfi
Contained in a statement dated February 7, 2023, Mr Gyamfi noted that the party has taken notice of a video in circulation on social media in which the NDC Youth Organizer for Suame is heard making some statements that border on possible reprisals to state-sponsored violence during elections. He admitted that the young man misspoke as the message he sought to convey did not come out as intended.
“In the circumstances, we reiterate that the young man misspoke and must be pardoned.”
Sammy Gyamfi
The NDC communication officer stated that it is an indisputable fact that “state-sponsored violence and thuggery has been the modus operandi” of the Akufo-Addo government, as government has benefitted and continues to profit from violence as was witnessed in the Ayawaso West Wuogon Bye-election, the 2020 Voter Registration Exercise and the 2020 General Election during which eight innocent Ghanaians were murdered by state-sponsored bandits belonging to the ruling NPP.
Mr Gyamfi highlighted that it is hypocritical that the Ghana Police Service which failed to even comment on or take action against the NPP “bandits” who perpetuated these crimes against innocent Ghanaians, most of whom are NDC members, will turn around to swiftly call for the arrest of a young man for misspeaking.
“Again, it is the height of hypocrisy to hear people in the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government and the New Patriotic Party pretend to condemn the statement of this constituency youth leader, when not too long ago, NPP Presidential Candidate, Nana Akufo-Addo and other NPP national leaders threatened fire and brimstone at a time when this nation had not experienced anything close to the barbarity seen during the Ayawaso West Wuogon and 2020 general elections.”
Sammy Gyamfi
NDC urges supporters to exercise restraint
Justifying his stance, Mr Gyamfi cited the infamous “All die be die” comment made by the President, and that of Kennedy Agyapong’s call for the murder of people of certain ethnic extraction in Ghana, a comment he described as celebrated by the NPP.
“Sammi Awuku’s call for NPP supporters to inflict pain and injury on their opponents with pestles is still fresh on our minds, and so is Anthony Karbo’s call for Afghanistan to be visited on Ghana. We have also not forgotten about Wontumi’s call for an Arab Spring-styled violence in Ghana.”
Sammy Gyamfi
However, Mr Gyamfi urged supporters of the party to continue to exercise restraint and not allow the fact that President Akufo Addo rode to power on the back of so much bloodshed and barbarity to make them want to mimic Nana Akufo Addo and his very violent political party.
It will be recalled that the police in a statement stated that the Ashanti Regional Police Command has initiated steps to get the NDC Suame Youth Organizer arrested to face justice. Meanwhile, it has urged political actors to be circumspect in their utterances and actions as they work together to safeguard the peace and security of the country.
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