Following recent attacks on some of the newly elected Members of Parliament (MP’s) of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the party is demanding the protection for its elected Members of Parliament by the police service.
The party’s call comes on the back of some of the leadership of the National Democratic Congress saying that, they are disappointed in the party’s flagbearer and its national executives over their handling relating to alleged attacks on its members after the 2020 polls.
In a communique by the party’s Director of Communications, Kakra Essamuah, the party consequently demanded that, “all our Members of Parliament-elect to be provided with adequate security by the Inspector General of the Ghana Police Service.”
The NDC also condemned in the strongest possible terms, the violent attacks against the party Members of Parliament(MP’s) for the Keta and Jomoro constituencies immediately following the respective victories in the recently conducted general elections.
The party further accused the New Patriotic Party (NPP) of orchestrating the recent attacks on their newly elected MP’s.
“This was clearly designed to cause severe injury to her in the expectation that she may not be able to take her seat at the time of swearing-in, thus enabling the NPP to claim majority status and empower them to select the Speaker of Parliament.”
The party then called on the president to act on the issue and urged its party members of parliament to take some protective security measures.
“Additionally, we call on the individual NDC MPs to take the necessary measures to boost their personal security, just as we strongly urge the party in the affected Constituencies to offer assistance towards achieving maximum security for all NDC MPs elect.
“Finally, we call on the government headed by the President, HE Nana Akufo-Addo to restrain the hoodlums from his party who from the registration period and throughout the elections, have committed acts of vandalism and violence against NDC Members and supporters that soil the image of our dear country.”
Prior to the call for protection by the NDC, the Member of Parliament-elect for the Keta Constituency, Kwame Dzudzorli Gakpey, was attacked and assaulted by some gun-wielding men at his residence at Afiadenyigba in the Volta Region.
Similarly, the Member of Parliament-elect for the Jomoro constituency in the Western Region, Dorcas Toffey is reported to have been assaulted in her residence, resulting in her hospitalisation and injuries to members of her household.
Also expressing concern about the attacks at the Asawase Constituency, treasurer for the NDC, Faisal Dauda, said the approach by the party’s leadership in addressing the election-related issues, does not inspire confidence among the party’s supporters.
“Our people are being attacked, our seats are being snatched from us, and the leadership of the party does not seem to care. I want to send a very strong caution to them that, if they think this was how the late Jerry John Rawlings run the party, we would not have been here today.”
He further said the work they put into ensuring the party secures more votes in the Asawase Constituency was not replicated in various parts of the country.