<<Print>>

Nana Akufo-Addo and the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) have turned a deaf ear to the efforts by churches, civil society organizations, the security agencies and other peace-loving Ghanaians preaching and praying for the maintenance of the peace that the country is enjoying, he has dangerously started psyching up his supporters into believing victory is near. The nine-member panel of Supreme Court justices, are far from given judgment in the Election Petition filed by Nana Addo, his vice-presidential candidate, Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia and the National Chairman, Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, but the NPP is desperately littering the country with fresh giant billboards in anticipation of victory from the Supreme Court. What is strange about the new billboards is that it is being spread around town at a time the political season which allows for such things is long over. Indeed, it is also coming at a time when the Police administration, has banned all political activities in the country, including an NPP political rally buried under the cloak of a religious event. This comes days after Ken Ofori-Atta and the petitioners at the eleventh hour, called off the launch of a one-sided book on the whole trial, while evidence was being giving in court, the party seem disinterested in the parliamentary seats, which the NPP equally lost. The Herald scouts in some parts of the Accra metropolis have uncovered the springing up of giant billboards with the portrait of the failed NPP flag bearer in a white long sleeves shirt with the NPP flag tied around his neck waving at Ghanaians. The billboard had the inscription �The Battle is the Lord�s� with bible quotation; 1 Samuel 17:47 which reads; ��All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD�s, and he will give all of you into our hands.� One of the giant billboards has been erected around the John Teye Memorial School Bus Stop, just after the Ofankor Barrier on the Accra-Nsawam Road, within the Dome �Kwabenya Constituency. The Herald is informed that there are a lot more sported in parts of Accra, and party insiders tell this paper that many more are going to be mounted ahead of the Supreme Court verdict. According to The Herald�s scouts at the site of the giant billboard, it was hurriedly mounted by some young men believed to be NPP supporters sometime last week. Meanwhile, reports are that some of the giant billboards are being pulled down by persons yet to be identified. NPP insiders told The Herald that some youthful party supporters are also angered by the decision to expend a huge sum of money on the billboard only to destroy it by pulling it down. Like the botched book launch, the giant billboards ahead of the Supreme Court judgment are to shape public opinion, especially the NPP fanatics. This could plunge the country into an abyss, as party fanatics and militants are likely to resort to violence, if the judgment does not meet their expectations. A press release from the NPP Communications outfit on the book at the time, served notice on the public to expect details of the party�s case at the Supreme Court, capturing among others, the profiles of the judges, lawyers of the petitioners, as well as the respondents, including Tsatsu Tsikata and Tony Lithur. It said �Ghanaians would soon have the benefit of reading at first hand a comprehensive compilation of documents, articles and pictures, describing at firsthand the issues leading to and surrounding the Presidential Election Petition sanctioned by the National Executive Committee of the NPP with Nana Akufo-Addo, Dr. Bawumia and Jake Obetsebi Lamptey as the Petitioners�. The 200 page book, the press statement said, was authored by a cousin of Nana Addo and owner of Databank Financial Service, Ken Ofori-Atta, William Oppong Bio, Boakye Agyarko and Kwasi Busia. It mentioned the book�s titled as �The Election Petition: Restoring Justice and Democracy for Peace� and will be launched tomorrow Tuesday, July 9, 2013 at 6pm at the British Council in Accra. The launch was called off at the last minutes as they feared they could be cited for contempt of court. Copies of the book have since been hidden.