The immediate past National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr Jake Otanka Obetsebi Lamptey, has called for calm within the NPP and a stop to all accusations and counter —accusations by party members, following the tragic death of the party’s Upper East Regional Chairman, Mr Adams Mahama.
“What happened is a straightforward criminal matter which must be condemned and the police should be allowed to deal with it,” he said in a telephone interview with the Daily Graphic yesterday.
Mr Mahama was bathed with acid after two assailants stopped his car while he was about to enter his house last Wednesday night, and had to be on admission at the Bolgatanga Hospital.
Don’t get involved According to Mr Obetsebi Lamptey, “Party members, supporters and sympathisers should not get involved in any blame game but rather allow the police investigations to go ahead uninterrupted.”
It was his view that “some people want to take advantage of the seeming distortions within the party to do something against each other”. He, thus, insisted, “The dastardly killing of the party’s regional chairman has nothing to do with NPP matters.”
He, therefore, called on the rank and file of the party to stay calm and focused and work together to overcome the pain at this difficult time when the party and family members were mourning the death of their beloved Adams Mahama.
He also reminded NPP supporters that the “nation is looking up to the NPP to change government in 2017 to end the misery confronting them,” and urged them to not do anything to undermine attaining this overarching objective.
Alan Kyerematen Another leading member of the party, Mr Alan John Kyerematen, also expressed shock at the sudden and unfortunate death of Mr. Mahama.
“I wish to join all party members and other sympathizers in condemning this barbaric and criminal act. I urge the Ghana Police Service and other security agencies to do everything possible to apprehend the perpetrators of this shameful crime,” he stated.
To the family of Mr. Mahama, Mr Kyerematen said he shared in their grief and sadness in this difficult period and prayed for God’s protection for them.
“Let me also seize this opportunity to urge all members of the NPP and, indeed, all Ghanaians to exercise restraint in their comments on this incident, and allow the law enforcement agencies to bring the criminals to justice,” he stated.
Asamoah Boateng In a related development, a leading member of the NPP and a former minister responsible for information in Kufuor’s Administration, Mr Stephen Asamoah Boateng, has called on all party members to maintain law and order and also guard against any division that might impede the party’s efforts towards unity for the task ahead.
He called on the government and the security agencies to take the necessary steps to carry out investigations to apprehend all those behind the criminal attack.
He urged all NPP members, sympathisers and all well-wishers to patiently “wait for our Leader, Nana Akufo Addo, who, I am informed, has cut short his foreign engagements and is on his way back to Ghana.”
He said it was with shock, sadness and deep sorrow that he “learnt of the horrific attack on our Upper East Regional Chairman and from which wounds he has reportedly passed away this morning.”
Ayisi Boateng A founder member of the party in the Ashanti Region, Mr Ayisi Boateng, who also spoke to the Graphic by telephone, suggested that the National Chairman and the General Secretary should step aside from their positions in their own interest and that the party.
“This is not out of animosity against the two leaders of the party but as a principle of natural justice for the national security to fully investigate what has happened.”
He has also called for emergency Steering Committee, National Executive Committee and National Council meetings to affirm his suggestion.
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