NDC CAN NOT STAND BY THEIR OWN
Two civil society groups, Youth for Leadership in Ghana and the Youth With Conviction of Principles, which are also youth wings of the ruling National Democratic Congress, have accused some members of the NDC executives and the Mills administration for refusing to support Mr. Kofi Adams in disciplining Nana Darkwa, the young man in the centre of controversy over the fires that razed down former President JJ Rawlings’s Ridge residence in Accra.
Addressing a press gathering on Tuesday in Accra, the General Secretary of YWCP, Mr. SaCut Amenga Etogo stated that it is really surprising how the ‘fair weather friends’ of Mr. Rawlings in the NDC have suddenly become” dumb and stammerers by separating themselves from the bold decision that Kofi Adams took on Nana Darkwa.”
According to him, the JEA Mills administration is giving them the impression that the New Patriotic Party is still running the show in the country. Explaining that they always have their way through situations and now the NPP is beginning to mould the thoughts and actions of the NDC government both at the level of the Executive and even the Parliament. Worse still, they maintained, the NPP is even extending that to the Judiciary.
Again, he stated that the President and his Government are trying to tell the public that they no longer believe in the rule of law, hence the President’s refusal to commend the Police for their good works, but instead express sympathy for the irresponsible behavior of Nana Darkwa and went ahead to reprimand the Police and question the judgment of the learned judge.
“We wonder how many more judges like this Honorable judge will be willing to interpret the law correctly next time, knowing that he could be embarrassed by the statements from the Presidency and government officials who are willing to obey the rules of the opposition and aid them in the travesty of justice,” he noted.
The groups said notwithstanding these issues, the Government has immediately responded to the louder voices of the opposition calling for the resettlement of President Kufuor by stating that there is a house under renovation for his comfort and convenience, whilst they have refused to act urgently about where President Rawlings and his family will lay their heads.
He further called on Kofi Adams to pursue the case and see to the logical conclusion the prosecution of Nana Darkwa. To the Judiciary, too, he encouraged them to resist any form of interference by both the opposition and Government and stand firm on their decisions based on the rule of law.
In a subsequent press conference held at the national party headquarters of the NDC, Mr. Richard Quashigah, Propaganda Secretary, expressed similar comments, and noted that the press conference was necessitated by what he describes as, the NPPs diversionary antics, and a stab in the back of Ghana’s fragile democracy. He noted that instead of a sharp rebuke of Darkwa by the NPP, it rather witnessed an overwhelming endorsement of his injurious fabrications. He also accused the NPP General Secretary, Nana Ohene Ntow, of arranging for Darkwa a platform on Joy Fm, to continue defending his actions.
On the issue of the boycott by the Minority in parliament, Mr. Quashigah described it as a dangerous threat to democracy as it seems to legitimize irresponsible behavior, because freedom of speech does not entitle any one to say anything on any issue without restriction. He cautioned that this should not be allowed to happen because it was a similar reckless statement through the media that sparked of the infamous genocide that took place in Rwanda some years ago.
According to Mr. Quashigah, it was crystal clear that the NPP was using this incident among other ones occurring recently, as part of its tactic to divert the attention of Ghanaians, from things that would make them remain in opposition in 2012. Among the things he claimed the NPP was trying to hide are the allegations of corruption raised by former Deputy British High Commissioner, Craig Murray, about dubious contracts entered into of which some top NPP guns could be beneficiaries. He also mentioned the bitter rancor within the ranks of the NPP as they were about to go to their national conference, and the blatant attempt to divert attention from the economic gains the Mills administration has achieved, like the rapid reduction in interest rates leading to a massive reduction in lending rates of private banks in the country.
Addressing a press gathering on Tuesday in Accra, the General Secretary of YWCP, Mr. SaCut Amenga Etogo stated that it is really surprising how the ‘fair weather friends’ of Mr. Rawlings in the NDC have suddenly become” dumb and stammerers by separating themselves from the bold decision that Kofi Adams took on Nana Darkwa.”
According to him, the JEA Mills administration is giving them the impression that the New Patriotic Party is still running the show in the country. Explaining that they always have their way through situations and now the NPP is beginning to mould the thoughts and actions of the NDC government both at the level of the Executive and even the Parliament. Worse still, they maintained, the NPP is even extending that to the Judiciary.
Again, he stated that the President and his Government are trying to tell the public that they no longer believe in the rule of law, hence the President’s refusal to commend the Police for their good works, but instead express sympathy for the irresponsible behavior of Nana Darkwa and went ahead to reprimand the Police and question the judgment of the learned judge.
“We wonder how many more judges like this Honorable judge will be willing to interpret the law correctly next time, knowing that he could be embarrassed by the statements from the Presidency and government officials who are willing to obey the rules of the opposition and aid them in the travesty of justice,” he noted.
The groups said notwithstanding these issues, the Government has immediately responded to the louder voices of the opposition calling for the resettlement of President Kufuor by stating that there is a house under renovation for his comfort and convenience, whilst they have refused to act urgently about where President Rawlings and his family will lay their heads.
He further called on Kofi Adams to pursue the case and see to the logical conclusion the prosecution of Nana Darkwa. To the Judiciary, too, he encouraged them to resist any form of interference by both the opposition and Government and stand firm on their decisions based on the rule of law.
In a subsequent press conference held at the national party headquarters of the NDC, Mr. Richard Quashigah, Propaganda Secretary, expressed similar comments, and noted that the press conference was necessitated by what he describes as, the NPPs diversionary antics, and a stab in the back of Ghana’s fragile democracy. He noted that instead of a sharp rebuke of Darkwa by the NPP, it rather witnessed an overwhelming endorsement of his injurious fabrications. He also accused the NPP General Secretary, Nana Ohene Ntow, of arranging for Darkwa a platform on Joy Fm, to continue defending his actions.
On the issue of the boycott by the Minority in parliament, Mr. Quashigah described it as a dangerous threat to democracy as it seems to legitimize irresponsible behavior, because freedom of speech does not entitle any one to say anything on any issue without restriction. He cautioned that this should not be allowed to happen because it was a similar reckless statement through the media that sparked of the infamous genocide that took place in Rwanda some years ago.
According to Mr. Quashigah, it was crystal clear that the NPP was using this incident among other ones occurring recently, as part of its tactic to divert the attention of Ghanaians, from things that would make them remain in opposition in 2012. Among the things he claimed the NPP was trying to hide are the allegations of corruption raised by former Deputy British High Commissioner, Craig Murray, about dubious contracts entered into of which some top NPP guns could be beneficiaries. He also mentioned the bitter rancor within the ranks of the NPP as they were about to go to their national conference, and the blatant attempt to divert attention from the economic gains the Mills administration has achieved, like the rapid reduction in interest rates leading to a massive reduction in lending rates of private banks in the country.
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