The National Democratic Congress has strongly told government in the face that the latter's "partisan prosecution" of the opposition party's National Chairman and a Deputy Communications Officer, cannot in any way "divert attention" from the clear "dismal display in government and maladministration that is fast driving the country into a ditch".
The NDC, in a statement signed by its General Secretary, Mr. Johnson Asiedu Nketia, condemned in no uncertain terms, "the politically-motivated persecution of our officials, cynically disguised as lawful prosecution."
According to the NDC, the country has witnessed scores of "instances of harassment, intimidation, criminality, lawlessness and plain terrorism by hoodlums operating at his behest", yet none of the principal actors involved have been prosecuted by the government of the day.
"How can a President fail so outrageously to act against terrorists belonging to his party who attacked a Court in Kumasi and pretend that a tape of dubious authenticity in which innocuous commentary is made, can form the basis of any serious prosecution?
What kind of thinking went into this frivolous prosecution when the President’s Spiritual acolyte, Owusu Bempah, walks free after attacking a radio station with armed thugs?" portions of the statement read.
The statement further described as "curious", the trial of Samuel Ofosu Ampofo by a Commercial Division of the High Court.
"We hope there is no sinister motive behind it," it said.
The opposition party further vowed not to "cede an inch of Ghana’s political space to a leader whose only approach to dissent is persecution," adding that come 2020, the NDC will regain power "to right his wrongs and restore confidence and integrity into state institutions while promoting a climate of freedom and respect for all shades of opinion".
Read Below A Copy Of The Statement
For Immediate Release
NDC DECRIES HARRASSMENT AND MALICIOUS PROSECUTION OF NATIONAL CHAIRMAN AND DEPUTY COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER
The National Democratic Congress takes note of the scheduled commencement of the trial of our National Chairman, Hon Samuel Ofosu Ampofo and our Deputy National Communications Officer.
We wish to condemn in no uncertain terms, the politically-motivated persecution of our officials, cynically disguised as lawful prosecution. The NDC finds it curious that the Chief Justice having created the divisions for the High Court with fully constituted Criminal Division, the case of our National Chairman would be assigned to a Justice at the Commercial Division of the High Court. We hope there is no sinister motive behind it.
We are aware that the frivolous, trumped up and illogical charges brought against our officials form part of a grand scheme by an increasingly intolerant and vindictive Nana Akufo-Addo to gag the political opposition.
Mr. Akufo-Addo is under the misguided belief that this partisan prosecution will divert attention from his dismal display in government and the maladministration that is fast driving Ghana into a ditch.
Fully aware that he cannot fulfil the legion of utopian campaign promises made to Ghanaians, the President has devised a scheme to use malicious prosecutions of NDC functionaries to curry favour with the electorate.
We had however never thought that such crudeness and blatant disregard for the rights of our members would be the weapons of choice in this political vendetta. We have witnessed countless instances of harassment, intimidation, criminality, lawlessness and plain terrorism by hoodlums operating at his behest.
Yet, he has not found it fit to prosecute the blood-thirsty bandits who have carried out these crimes against innocent citizens of Ghana, but is quick to sanction the abuse of prosecutorial powers to intimidate opponents on the flimsiest of premises.
How can a President fail so outrageously to act against terrorists belonging to his party who attacked a Court in Kumasi and pretend that a tape of dubious authenticity in which innocuous commentary is made, can form the basis of any serious prosecution?
What kind of thinking went into this frivolous prosecution when the President’s Spiritual acolyte, Owusu Bempah, walks free after attacking a radio station with armed thugs?
How does the President reconcile his refusal to prosecute the terrorists who unleashed violence against innocent citizens of Ghana at the Ayawaso West Wuogon, with this victimization of our officials?
We are also outraged, that the Ghana Police Service, has become a laughing stock and are willing to be made a plaint tool in the political persecution of Akufo-Addo’s opponents.
We wish to make clear, that contrary to the Akufo Addo government’s belief that the maltreatment of our members, hasty media trials and the peddling of outrageous falsehoods against them will meet with a docile party, we will take every reasonable step to assert the innocence of our members and insist on respect for their fundamental human rights. We demand fair and lawful treatment for all our members and an immediate end to this harassment.
Despite our strong disagreement with this partisan prosecution, we demand fairness in the judicial process and it is our expectation that historical hostility to the NDC, whether real or perceived, will play no role in the determination of all cases and that only the facts of each case, the position of the law and the objective assessment of same will inform any outcome.
Finally, we assure President Akufo-Addo that his hypocrisy and quest to muscle the opposition through the misuse of security agencies and manipulation of judicial processes will fail. We will neither permit nor allow the erosion of all the gains made in our democratic dispensation only to satisfy the whim of a President whose actions appears to portray dictatorial tendencies.
We are unwilling to cede an inch of Ghana’s political space to a leader whose only approach to dissent is persecution. We are comforted that his disastrous performance as President will lead to his dismissal from office by the people of Ghana at the 2020 elections. This will afford the incoming NDC government the opportunity to right his wrongs and restore confidence and integrity into state institutions while promoting a climate of freedom and respect for all shades of opinion.
Meanwhile, we invite all well meaning Ghanaians to join the NDC in solidarity to defend the fundamental human rights of our citizenry, during this moment of unbridled political persecution by the Akufo Addo led NPP government.
Signed
Hon. Johnson Asiedu Nketiah
(General Secretary)
NATIONAL SECRETARIAT
P.O BOX AN 5825 ACCRA-NORTH, GHANA
Source: Isaac Kwame Owusu/Peacefmonline.com/[email protected]
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Adee no ashe mo. When you come to power one day u can arrest Owusu Bempa This impunity must stop We need scapegoat.
If Owusu Bempa is the spiritual leader of the President then Ghana is being ruled by the satan, because Owusu Bempah is not a Rev, Pastor or Prophet he is okomfo because I saw him in dream with mpesempese on his head, that is why we are facing problems in Ghana. God bless Ghana. This year is a fearful year.
A WOLF Elder in Sheep's skin? NEVER! His church must be interested in this case if they really mean well. If it was me I would in remand by now.
People of Ghana, This POLITICAL WHY GAMES WE'VE BEEN PLAYING THE LAST 25YEARS MUST STOP NOW. Okay WHY MONTIA 3 were pardoned by Mahama whilst other prison petitions are still in jail? And on a on. So, we must not deal with crime because the person in question has political color? Ghana move forward. Kofi-Cape Coast
A party chairman and Pentecost church elder is caught plotting kidnappings, murder, assault and destabilizing the nation, and the NDC wants his case to be treated like the others? The NDC is really really desperate and in a quagmire. Did they really rule this nation? No wonder we're so messed up.
This simply does not make sense. You and your party will remain opposition for a very LOOOOOOOOOOOOG time! Massa, Ghanaians are awake ooo! Mark it on the wall.
What goes around comes around, it used to be Muntie 3 walking free and Ken in cooler. These Ndc people have short memories.
This action by the government is one of the most ***barred word**** actions ever. stop chasing Osofu Ampofo and solve the problems of the nation. we are suffering and you are beating about the forest solve the doom So, dont only rely on the schools mahama built add more. and commission the new hospitals built by the previous administration. because some of the hospitals are full. NPP is a bunch of jokers. they are squeezing your necks and you say they are massaging it. posterity will judge all of us. you have chosing so many ministers, given them $115,000 toyota landcruiser, utilities free, sitting in air condition and paying them at the end of every month and they are producing nothing. people need class rooms and you have to go for loan to build. is this not Stup1dity. A factory is built with Ghana money and you left it to wrote in the name of investigation. is that not f00lishness, cant you commission it and still do investigations? look at our population and the number of ambulances we have. is that not f00lishne55. who in his right frame of mind choose ministers to stay in government and be payed with tax payers money and after 4 to 8years he just leave sanitation problem the same. you spoke about Woyome as if you will arrest him as soon as you come, 4years down the lane. ***barred word***
This action by the government is one of the most ***barred word*** actions ever. stop chasing Osofu Ampofo and solve the problems of the nation. we are suffering and you are beating about the ***barred word***. solve the doom So, dont only rely on the schools mahama built add more. and commission the new hospitals built by the previous administration. because some of the hospitals are full. NPP is a bunch of jokers. they are squeezing your necks and you say they are massaging it. posterity will judge all of us. you have chosing so many ministers, given them $115,000 toyota landcruiser, utilities free, sitting in air condition and paying them at the end of every month and they are producing nothing. people need class rooms and you have to go for loan to build. is this not Stup1dity. A factory is built with Ghana money and you left it to wrote in the name of investigation. is that not f00lishness, cant you commission it and still do investigations? look at our population and the number of ambulances we have. is that not ***barred word***. who in his right frame of mind choose ministers to stay in government and be payed with tax payers money and after 4 to 8years he just leave sanitation problem the same. you spoke about Woyome as if you will arrest him as soon as you come, 4years down the lane. ***barred word***
This is a clear admission of guilt by the NDC. To start with, you are in a court of competent jurisdiction same as the Kumasi issue. If you think your chairman is clean just request the service of an independent IT expert to scientifically the "so-called doctored tape". Ghanaians are now very much aware of NDCs propaganda and crying more than the bereaved even when they are caught pants down. Let the courts decide!