President Nana Akufo-Addo has responded to former President John Mahama’s threat that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) would respond in equal measure should they be intimidated in the 2020 general elections.
His comment follows the violence that nearly marred the Ayawaso West Wougon by-elections.
READ ALSO: We’ll match NPP boot-for-boot in 2020 – Mahama [Video]
Men dressed in black polo shirts and khaki trousers stormed the home of NDC Parliamentary Candidate, Delali Brempong at La Bawaleshie where a melee ensued, leading to the firing of gunshots.
The men later slapped Ningo-Prampram MP, Samuel George, who in a video, appeared to have questioned their actions.
The NDC in response pulled out of the elections and accused the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) of using violence to intimidate their voters and polling agents.
Former President John Mahama reacting to the issue said the NDC can do worse, warning the governing NPP that the opposition party will meet it boot-for-boot in 2020.
READ ALSO: Akamba is the worst Organiser Ghana has ever had – Nana B
In a riposte, President Akufo-Addo in a statement issued in Accra said his party will ”never dream of competing with any other political party in unleashing violence on the Ghanaian people.”
The statement added that the governing NPP’s policy as espoused by the founding father is “to liberate the energies of the people for the growth of a property-owning democracy in this land, with right to life, freedom and justice as the principles to which the Government and laws of the land should be dedicated in order specifically to enrich life, property and liberty of each and every citizen”, and that is what my Government is doing.”
President Akufo-Addo congratulated the newly-elected MP, Lydia Alhassan, who won the polls by a garnering 68.95 percent of total votes cast.
READ ALSO: Ayawaso violence: Ghana is not safe – CDD
The President said he was confident that Madam Alhassan who is the wife of the late Kyeremanten Agyarko would serve the interests of her constituents with distinction in Parliament.
Below is a copy of the full statement:
PRESIDENT AKUFO-ADDO CONGRATULATES LYDIA SEYRAM ALHASSAN, MP-ELECT FOR AYAWASO WEST WUOGON
I congratulate Lydia Seyram Alhassan on her emphatic victory in Thursday’s by-election, in the constituency. The electorate in the constituency has made an excellent choice, and I am confident she will serve their interests in Parliament with distinction.
The isolated incident of violence, which occurred in the early stages of the election, was unfortunate and regrettable, and I condemn it in no uncertain terms. A by-election should be a peaceful and happy event, no matter how competitive. The Police is committed to conducting a rapid inquiry into the matter, and I expect all persons who are found culpable, at the end of the process, to face the full rigours of the law.
It is important also to state that the New Patriotic Party, the party from which my Government was born, would never dream of competing with any other political party in unleashing violence on the Ghanaian people. Our policy, as espoused by the founding father of our political tradition, is “to liberate the energies of the people for the growth of a property-owning democracy in this land, with right to life, freedom and justice as the principles to which the Government and laws of the land should be dedicated in order specifically to enrich life, property and liberty of each and every citizen”, and that is what my Government is doing.
I commend the Electoral Commission for the professionalism it displayed in conducting a free, fair, transparent and credible election, despite the isolated challenge it faced.
The Ghanaian people have, again, demonstrated to the world their deep attachment to the principles of democratic accountability and the rule of law. Ghana’s democracy is robust, and will only grow from strength to strength.
Signed,
Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo