The presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the 2024 general elections, Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has called on the president-elect John Dramani Mahama to call the rampaging supporters of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to order.
Dr Bawumia said that Mr Mahama should be reminded that he has won an election, he has not staged a coup detat therefore he has a responsibility to contribute to protect life and property.
Supporters of the NDC are alleged to have vandalised state properties and persons percieved to be sympathisers of the NPP following the victory of the party in the just-ended general elections.
For instance, in the Efia Constituency of the Western Region, some of them stormed the Takoradi office of the Electoral Commission to cause mayhem.
“We were here when we saw many members of the NDC coming, they looked angry and were shouting’ no Majeed, no peace’. They initially broke the glass door of the Electoral Commission office, but they were unable to enter. Fortunately, there was no officer at the office when they came”, Edward Amoah, a worker at the premises indicated.In a statement on his Facebook page reacting to these, Dr Bawumia said that “H.E John Dramani Mahama Please Call Your Supporters To Order To Preserve The Peace And Unity of The Country. I have noted with deep concern the embarrassing state of lawlessness and thuggery being unleashed on innocent Ghanaians and state institutions by members of the National Democratic Congress.
“I wish to call on the President-elect, His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, to exhibit statesmanship by reining in his supporters in order to preserve the peace and unity of the country. There have been many incidents of NDC members besieging collation centres with offensive weapons to forcibly declare NDC parliamentary candidates as winners of some parliamentary contests. We believe that this is not in keeping with the democratic culture we are all trying to nurture.
“I am also saddened by the indifference and silence on the part of Mr. John Dramani Mahama and the NDC in relation to the violence and mayhem being unleashed on members of the NPP and other people perceived to be sympathisers. These wanton acts of lawlessness and brutality have been extended to state institutions and public offices, looting and stealing state properties in the process.
“As a result of this, some public offices were forced to close for business. In a bizzare twist, these barbaric acts are being extended to private homes and properties of individuals, with some receiving death threats. It is regrettable that these reprehensible acts are being perpetrated following an electoral process that has been widely touted as credible.We must at all times place the national interest over and above any individual interest. I would like to remind President Mahama that he has won an election; he has not staged a coup detat. He has a responsibility to contribute to protect life and property.”
He added “I believe President Mahama and the NDC know that if these acts continue, people will be compelled to take reasonable steps to defend themselves. The last thing anybody wants is to mar the beauty of the successful elections that have just been concluded. Mr. Mahama and the NDC should demonstrate that they are not reluctant democrats.”
