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New Patriotic Party's 1st Vice Chairman for Asokwa constituency, Edmund Kyei says former President John Dramani Mahama should prepare his family for battle after inciting violence ahead of 2020 polls.

Mr Mahama has been severely criticized for asserting that the NDC will match the governing New Patriotic Party "boot-for-boot" with violence in the 2020 polls if the NPP attempts to intimidate and harass NDC supporters.

His comment followed a shooting incident near the La-Bawaleshie JHS polling station in the course of the Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency by-election held on Thursday. The NDC accuses the NPP of being behind the shooting.

Addressing NDC delegates in the Adaklu Constituency of the Volta Region on Thursday, 31 January 2019, Mr Mahama said: “We are not going to joke in 2020, and I’m sounding a warning to the NPP – we are going to match them boot for boot . . .”

“I want to sound a caution that NDC has a revolutionary root and when it comes to unleashing violence, no one can beat us to that. It is just that we are mindful of this country’s democracy and that is why we must be the first to respect it. That is why we are acting as a party that is docile and respecting the rule of law. But if we believe that the government cannot protect our people and we believe that the government is using its vigilante groups and illegal forces to intimidate and harass and injure our people, then we may have to advise ourselves.”

He added: “We respect the Constitution of this country and the NDC is a democratic party and that’s why we abide by the rules of the Constitution. But the same Constitution says that Ghanaians should resist anybody who attempts to subvert the Constitution. When you go rampaging with forces and intimidating people when they should come out and vote, you are subverting the Constitution. And we have a right to resist you.”

Reacting to Mahama’s warning, Edmund Kyei described the comments as unbecoming of a former president..

“It's very unfortunate to hear ex President Mahama making such violent comment, though the national security should have acted professionally to prevent such unfortunate incidence at the bye election. But for a statesman like John Mahama to say his party is more violent than any other political party and they will match NPP boot for boot in upcoming 2020 election is below the belt," he said. 

Speaking in interview with Peacefmonline.com, the NPP guru opined that if Mr Mahama wants to practice violence, then "he should first mobilize his children to the war front for other supporters to follow suit. As a statesman and a former president, you should know better than to utter such misguided remarks.”

“I want to ask Mr Mahama if he knows the effects of his comments? He has really brought tension into the country as former president; he should not forget what happened in Rwanda . . . 3When comments like this comes from a public figure, it has the potential to incite war which can have a devastating consequences for all.”

He, however, implored the former President to swiftly render an unqualified apology to Ghanaians.

“I'm urging John Mahama to come out and apologise to the entire nation and his innocent party folks who want to live in a peaceful country,” he stated.