<<Print>>

Deputy Interior Minister Kobby Acheampong is warning leaders of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) to stop their disgruntled supporters from �illegally� occupying the Obra Spot in Accra in protest of allegedly rigged election results. Mr. Acheampong said that the patience of the security forces and Ghanaians in general is running out and the leaders of the NPP will be held responsible for the unlawful occupation and acts of violence being perpetrated by their supporters. Thousands of NPP supporters converged at the Obra Spot Tuesday for a demonstration against the results of the 2012 elections. They claim NPP candidate Nana Akufo-Addo was unfairly denied victory in Friday�s elections and until the Supreme Court overturns the declaration of the EC chair, they will continue occupying the Obra Spot in Accra. In fulfillment of their promise, the supporters on Wednesday returned to the same spot amidst a tight security presence and vowed to return on Thursday. But the Deputy Interior Minister warned the supporters that they will no longer be tolerated. He said that in the heat of the electoral defeat, security forces were lenient and allowed the unlawful assembly but that it now appears that, �things are getting out of hand.� Mr. Acheampong explained to Joy News that the NPP has failed to follow the due process spelt out in the Public Order Act and he said that their acts of lawlessness will no longer be countenanced. If the leaders of the NPP think they will be exonerated for the illegal actions of their supporters, he reported that, �they have to think again.� The deputy minister said that like Laurent Gbagbo, who was never on the streets of Ivory Coast in the heat of the Ivorian crisis but is now facing trial, NPP leaders will face similar charges if their supporters continue to break the law. He wondered why supporters are on the streets when party leaders have already resolved to go to court for redress.