The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has expressed dismay over a letter by the National Chairman of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo requesting mediators and facilitators of the dialogue between the two major political parties in the country.
It could be recalled that the President in his State of the Nation Address at Parliament this year urged both the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the largest opposition NDC to hold a meeting towards the disbandment of vigilante groups.
President Nana Akufo-Addo noted with concern the dangers that vigilante groups pose to the lives of Ghanaians following their attacks by them since the inception of the government and so believes the two main political parties can help dissolve the groups.
The groups are said to owe allegiance to either the NPP or NDC and at their behest have been terrorizing people in the country.
"I want to make a sincere passionate appeal to the leaders of the two main political parties in our country – NPP and NDC – to come together as soon as possible, preferably next week, to agree on appropriate measures to bring an end to this worrying and unacceptable phenomenon of vigilantism in our body politic . . . the Security Services of the country will be on standby to assist this meeting. If voluntarily disbandment by the parties is not feasible, then I will initiate legislation in the matter," the President said.
Following the passionate appeal by the President, the NDC National Chairman, Mr. Ofosu-Ampofo wrote a letter to President Nana Akufo-Addo asking him to extend the call for disbandment not only to the NPP and NDC but to "all political parties, civil society organisations, representatives of the media, representatives of the military, police and other security agencies, as well as any other relevant stakeholders".
"In addition, in view of the often recurrent mistrust and suspicion that characterize such interactions by political parties, and the pain and suffering that vigilantism may have created especially in the recent past, it is of the utmost importance that a mediator with national credibility be appointed to drive the entire process in that regard, my party, the NDC, propose that the National Peace Council be appointed as the mediator for such a meeting," the letter further stated.
In a reply to Mr. Ofosu-Ampofo's letter, the President stated that he is "not aware of any vigilante groups that are associated with any of these bodies, as your letter suggests. Political party vigilante activity in the country has, unfortunately, been associated with the National Democratic Congress and the New Patriotic Party. I, thus, see little basis for your request.
"Secondly, your request for mediators and facilitators of the dialogue. I am dismayed, and I believe that the Ghanaian people share my dismay, that the two parties who have dominated and continue to dominate the politics of the Fourth Republic, who between them have garnered at least 95% of the votes in each of the seven (7) general elections of the Fourth Republic, who have provided all seven (7) governments of the Fourth Republic, who are the only parties currently represented in the Seventh Parliament of the Fourth Republic, cannot meet to dialogue on matters of our nation's governance and political culture, without the intervention of outsiders, including foreign entities, no matter how well-meaning", the President said in a letter dated Monday, March 4, 2019.
President Akufo-Addo also called for the swift meeting to "take place as soon as possible, and all matters ventilated there, and the outcome of the meeting or meetings will be appropriately addressed".
"It is important that we trust in our own capabilities to resolve our own problems. Government stands ready to provide a venue, if it is the wish of the parties . . . I am hopeful that we can all work together to achieve a positive result for our country, and spare it the unnecessary consequences and traumas of vigilantism," the President advised.
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Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana
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Who do your described as outsiders? The Media?,the other political parties?, the civil society? or the other stakeholders - the security forces, Electoral Commission, NCCE........ Please, rethink Your Excellency. NDC's request is not far from being right!
I DONT THIS OUR PRESIDENT IS BEING FAIR TO WHAT IS ON THE TABLE. I DONT KNOW WHO LEAKED THIS OFFICIAL LETTER WITH THE PRESIDENTS SIGNATURE BUT ITS IN A BAD TASTE. FIRST OF ALL I STILL HEAR THE SOUND OF THE PRESIDENT WHEN HE WAS IN OPPOSITION SAYING THE MILITANTS IN OUR SIDE. WHAT WAS HE TALKING ABOUT? WHEN HE ASSUMED POWER WE ALL SAW HOW STATE SECURITY WERE PUSHED ASIDE BY THIS PERSONAL SECURITY AND I REMEMBER PEOPLE SPOKE ABOUT IT THEY STILL FOLLOW HIM. WE HAVE HEARD FROM DOUBLE AT THE SITTING AND WE NOW BELIEVE THERE ARE MORE DOUBLES IN THE STATE SECURITY. I THINK THE PRESIDENT SHOULD COME CLEAN SINCE THE NDC HAS RULED THAN ANY OTHER PARTY. THEY KNOW THE GROUNDS AND IF THIS SECURITY MATTERS ARE NOT HANDLED WELL IT WILL BLOW IN OUR FACES. THIS IS NOT AN NDC NPP MATTER WHO KNOWS IF THE OTHER PARTIES ARE NOT ALSO BUIDING THEIR SECURITY. ALL HANDS MUST BE ON DECK TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM.
KWAKU ADDO IS SIMPLY LIVING IN A ***barred word*** PARADISE
do the Pentecost Elder respect the peace council chairman? before he said they should insults him? evil and barbaric Elder Ofosu Ampofo and your evil minded party people
In summary, all the president is saying is that, if the NPP and NDC formed/operates vigilante groups, then let the leadership of these parties meet and resolve these vigilante groups. Furthermore, there is no need for foreign or other entities getting involved because both parties have the capabilities to deal with this peacefully on their own. Or?
Fred Williams, ***barred word*** use1ess Nigerian, bold enough to paste your NIGERIAN phone number here, after u Nigerians kidnapped our Taadi girls and are suffocating Kwame Nkrumah Interchange. Peace fm why don't you censor the comments. And my fellow Ghanaians please don't contact that Nigerian, even his English is wrong. Trust me it's another hungry Nigerian Fraudster/Th1ef. Ghanaians shine your eyes. Nigerians are almost entirely crimina1s.
His Excellency the President has said it all, how can we wait for all these parties who don't have vigilante groups before the meeting? Meanwhile if these two parties NPP AND NDC agree to meet initially all those suggested parties can participate and bring their ideas so This Fake Pentecost Elder must know that ndc and NPP are the once the responsibility lies. THIS IS JUST A COMMON SENSSEE!
Akoffo Addo is a very dumb guy if he really signed this himself after reading it over..
can Ghanians read?the president said it all,we dont need foreign entities.both npp and ndc should go into their shameful hole together and come out clean saying they both ruined Ghana
Ghanaians let's be smart. The Prez answer to chairman is on point. Look into the content of the letter chairman it was letter to score political point and the Prez knows this game. Who will pay for the team and lunch and aluwa to all these groups. Ghana lets be smart