Full text: NPP condemns post-election violence

The New Patriotic Party(NPP) on Monday afternoon held a press conference expressing discontent with the violence that has erupted in parts of the country following the 2024 election.

The NPP National Youth Organiser, Salam Mustapha described the acts as shameful and must be condemned beyond reasonable doubts.

The party reaffirmed its commitment to peace and vowed not to support any action that will alter the peaceful election held.

Read the full statement:

NPP will not support any attempt to alter Ghana’s peaceful parliamentary elections by NDC supporters

• Ladies and gentlemen of the Press, Ghana on 7^th December, 2024 conducted the 9^th successful election under the 4^th Once again, our great nation offers a beacon of hope for other African countries to follow. Ghanaians have been provided a democracy that gives hope, security, and economic stability in the region, and we must all work to uphold this legacy. Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia, Leader and Flagbearer of the NPP, graciously conceded to John Mahama on the morning of 8^th December just 14 hours after polls closed, prioritising our dear nation’s peace, security, and economic stability. This is a fact which contrasts sharply with John Mahama and the NDC’s actions taken in the 2016 and 2020 elections.
• We commend our Leader and Flagbearer, Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia for the admirable Statesmanship shown and for putting the nation’s interests above all else. Let us all remain steadfast in promoting unity and peace as Ghana navigates this critical transition.

• We note that despite the NPP’s deep commitment to a peaceful electoral process and transition period, the NDC is exploiting this goodwill by orchestrating chaos and igniting mayhem across the nation. We are disappointed to hear that the NDC has issued a press statement attributing acts of vandalism and looting of state properties to supporters of the NPP. We urge the Police to act swiftly in protecting and arresting the perpetuators of the ongoing acts.
• The alarming escalation of violence being carried out by NDC supporters against Electoral Commission (EC) officials, NPP Parliamentary candidates and security personnel is unprecedented. These incidents have been recorded and have been shown on various media stations. There are videos all over and not one NPP supporter has been seen carrying out any of such dastardly acts.
• The affected constituencies still in an embattled decision making as result of mayhem being caused by the NDC include:

1. Dome Kwabenya
2. Okaikwei Central
3. Ablekuma North
4. Tema Central
5. Nsawam Adoagyiri
6. Suhum
7. Akwatia
8. Fanteakwa North
9. Kpandai

• Karaga
• Gushiegu
• Ahafo Ano North
• Obuasi East
• Ahafo Ano South West
• Techiman South
• Damango
• Aowin

The NDC in these constituencies have resorted to physical attacks on NPP agents, seizure and burning of ballots and pink sheets in order to destroy the very documents needed for the declaration of winners of the election in these various constituencies.

We have seen and witnessed several episodes of the alarming escalation of violence being meted out by NDC supporters through mass intimidation, threats, and physical attacks on EC officials and security personnel:

• In the Madina Constituency, an NDC supporter stormed the NPP’s election operations centre, accusing them of ballot thumb-printing and vote manipulation.
• In the Okaikwei North Constituency, violence erupted at Akweteyman as NDC youth, armed with machetes, attacked the NPP party office, destroying vehicles and property. The NDC youth then alleged that the NPP Parliamentary candidate had deployed thugs to disrupt the elections.
• In the Obuasi East Constituency, NDC voters clashed with military personnel at Akapoliso in an attempt to seize their firearms.
• In the Tolon Constituency, tensions escalated when suspected NDC supporters vandalised an NPP monitoring team’s vehicle at the Nyankpala DA polling centre.

There is no doubt now that the NDC trained and primed their supporters to cause mayhem and that they are doing what was drummed into them.

They have a quest to challenge the security forces. If the state security should react, despite the peaceful way in which the elections have taken place on 7^th December and how NPP supporters have carried themselves in a peaceful manner, the NDC will then resort to accusations.

The NDC is forcefully trying to take over election declarations in the Regional EC offices. The obvious intention is mass provocation which will only result in violence, disruption of activities and a disruption of the key peace processes which we have fought so hard to protect.

NDC supporters have already gone on rampage and are looting public and private properties. In Greater Accra, in Ayawaso North Assembly freezers were seen being carried away.

In the NADMO office NDC supporters attacked officials who were at work. Constituency offices of the New Patriotic Party have been violated and destroyed.

In the Tamale, the Agric office and the school feeding warehouse has been looted.

This is exactly what the leads to electoral violence. The NDC are challenging and pushing the security forces to respond so they can quickly turn around and accuse them of intimidation and violence on their supporters.

We the NPP are calling for Action:

1. Defending our Democracy which we have all built over the last 32 years:
   The NPP will not allow the NDC to undermine Ghana’s hard-won democracy. It is our responsibility to protect every citizen of this dear nation.
2. Demand for Law and Order:
   We call on the Ghana Police Service to maintain law and order at all collation centres and protect the sanctity of the electoral process.
3. Demand for Electoral Accountability:
   We urge the Electoral Commission to ensure the swift execution of its constitutional mandate without interference or intimidation. Please get the needed documents needed to make you effectively carry out your mandate.
4. Demand to John Mahama:
   It is you, who will be responsible for Ghana’s peace, security and economic stability in a few weeks. We are therefore highly surprised and deeply disappointed that you look on whilst these incidents weakening the foundation of peace, security and economic stability to be handed to you continues and will harm the country. The NPP demands that John Mahama immediately instruct his supporters to stand down and allow the EC to do its work.

We caution you to note that continued provocations and aggression by NDC supporters may lead to uncontrollable reactions, which could jeopardise national stability.

NPP supporters have stood firm in the interest of peace and democracy, but our patience is being tested. We will firmly defend ourselves against any attack on us or our members.

We appeal to all Ghanaians to remember that we are one nation with a shared destiny. Elections are not a justification for violence or division. Let us all work together to maintain the peace and stability that have been the hallmark of our democracy.

LONG LIVE THE NPP

LONG LIVE GHANA

LONG LIVE OUR DEMOCRACY