President John Mahama has blamed the police for Sunday’s clashes between supporters of the NPP and NDC.
“Only last Saturday we almost had a clash which was unfortunate, if any of those firearms had been fired and someone had dropped dead it would have been a completely different story. I think we should be preventive enough in our actions to prevent such things. ...I think that the police at Nima should have been better briefed knowing that this group was passing through and then we should have taken appropriate safeguards to ensure that such a thing doesn’t happen,” Mr Mahama said when he met some labour unions at the Flagstaff House.
The clashes happened as supporters of the two parties converged on the vicinity of the NPP flag bearer’s Nima residence as they simultaneously held their Keep Fit activities. A few warning shots were fired.
Mr Mahama said: “By my nature, I’m not a person who encourages violence and I’ll never encourage violence. If any such thing will happen, it will not be because I have provoked it."
Mr Akufo-Addo and the NPP claim the NDC supporters threw stones into his residence, a situation that sparked the firing of the warning shots by the three-time flag bearer’s security detail.
Mr Mahama indicated that “we will avoid the flashpoints that create that kind of situation” and charged the country’s law enforcers to be proactive in preventing any violence or misconduct from party supporters in the build-up to the December 7 polls.
He also charged members of the public and various stakeholders to hold politicians to order.
“When we (politicians) ratchet up the political rhetoric, you should feel free and confident to call us to order,” the president added.
Meanwhile, the United States of America has condemned the attack on the residence of Nana Akufo-Addo.
“The US is deeply disappointed by the targeting of the home and family of the primary opposition presidential candidate,” Department of State Press Director Elizabeth Trudeau said at the Daily Press Briefing on Monday, November 14, 2016.
"We condemn all violence in Ghana including political violence in the period leading to, during, and immediately following Ghana’s elections scheduled for 7 December. Ghanaians from across the political spectrum have worked hard to build one of the leading democracies in Africa. We call on all Ghanaians to remain peaceful and respect the democratic process.
“We specifically call on candidates, their parties and their supporters to reaffirm their pledges to renounce violence and settle any disputes through the judicial process.” The US government said it will revoke or refuse visas of any politician that incites violence in connection with the polls.
Also, the British government has condemned the violence. “We condemn all violent acts by the supporters of any political party, including any occurring as a result of holding electoral campaign events close to the private homes of rival candidates,” the British High Commission said in a statement.
“The UK is a great supporter of Ghana’s democracy and of maintaining its electoral record. We admire the open and energetic nature of its campaigns. We believe that violence has absolutely no place in the electoral process,” the statement continued, adding: “We, therefore, call on all Ghana’s political actors to promote peace, and to respect Ghana’s electoral and constitutional processes. All political parties should strongly urge their supporters to refrain from, and indeed actively condemn any violence, incitement or intimidation which only serves to undermine democracy.”
The UK, like the US has also threatened to refuse or revoke the visas of anyone that engages in or incites political violence.
The UK noted that it would continue to work with Ghanaian institutions, including the Electoral Commission, Police, Judiciary, National Peace Council, civil society groups and the media to support Ghana’s efforts to hold credible, peaceful and fair elections while remaining entirely neutral.
Source: Classfmonline
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What are you guys talking here? which one is US? What happened when Trump was validly elected as president? didnt supportres of Hilary Clinton on the streets burning tyres and all kind of mad ness? ***barred word*** idiotsss.
I pray to God that , please US and British officers kindly do the honourable thing by revoking Omane Boamah, Kofi Adams, Kwadwo Twum Boafo, the worst of all them. Please hurry up UK and USA people give us the good people of Ghana this sweet news by next week. I would help you identify all those NDC people. Do not hesitate to add their families, relatives. Include those domiciled there Even deport them to Ghana soonest
MR PRESIDENT, BLAME NDC ORGANIZERS AND NOT THE POLICE. WE MUST BEGIN TO CALL A SPADE A SPADE. IF YOU FAIL TO BLAME THE ORGANIZERS, WHO SHOULD HAVE SELECTED A DIFFERENT ROUT KNOWING THE UNDISCIPLINED NATURE OF NDC SUPPORTERS, THEY WOULD DO IT AGAIN AND AGAIN BECAUSE THEY WOULD HAVE THE LEADER WHO WILL SHIFT THE BLAME FROM THEM TO THE POLICE. BUT THE POLICE MUST BE ACTIVE AND SHOULD HAVE ADVICE FOR A DIFFERENT ROUTE. THEY CANNOT BE ENTIRELY EXONERATED IF THEY SANCTIONED THE ENTIRE MATCH WITHOUT ANY PROPER GUIDANCE.
UK and US governments please the first list of revokees of NDC people should come out by next week
NPP did lash with the NDC. It the NDC that attacked Nnana's house. It is shameful for all ht NDC leadership to be twisting the truth and peddling falsehood. Your punishment awaits you on the December 7
You knew this and spewed those words on Sunday? Withdraw those statements and behave like a head of state. You fueled the anger of the victims and their sympatisers and rather geared your thugs on. Anyway, mr. President now we know the war mongers. Directly in your backyard.
SO MR. PRESIDENT, YOU WANT UK AND USA TO SPEAK BEFORE YOU SPEAK AH! WHERE WERE YOU WHEN THE INCIDENCE HAPPENED? YOU ARE THE ONE WHO MASTERMINDED THE WHOLE PLAN. GOD HAS SEEN YOU. YOU ARE A HYPOCRITE, YOU DON'T MEAN WHAT YOU ARE SAYING. SHAME UNTO YOU. YOUR CUP IS FULL. YOU WILL GO COME DECEMBER BECAUSE WE DON'T TRUST YOU. YOU ARE NOT SINCERE. YOU ARE BEEN MANAGED BY BABIES WITH SHARP TEETH AND YOU ARE NOT OF YOURSELF.
I know very well that of U S & U K did not condemned this act like u will not say anything. U are just pretending. Shame
Mr President do u expect the police to stop ur people? talk to those weasels Kofi Adams and Koku