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The Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) is appalled at the news of the ‘acid attack’ and subsequent death of the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) Upper East Regional Chairman, Mr. Mahama Adams. Reports that have emerged so far are suggestive of a politically related attack that resulted in the death of Mr. Mahama. The Center expresses its deepest condolences to the bereaved family and the NPP fraternity.

CDD-Ghana condemns without reservation all acts of political violence, be it intra or inter party. Acts such as these, which may have resulted in the death of the NPP Upper East Regional Chairman, have no place in a democracy. To be sure, past election observation/monitoring reports, including those by CDD-Ghana and the Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO), since 1992, are replete with conflicts and violence in our political and electioneering environment. CDD-Ghana holds the view that such acts undermine current efforts to promote peace, stability, good governance and the consolidation of democracy in Ghana.

CDD-Ghana is concerned that in the past, perpetrators of election-related violence have gone unpunished, and in many instances are condoned (and not reprimanded) by political party leadership. It is gratifying to note that the leadership of both the NPP and NDC have condemned this latest incident. CDD-Ghana hopes that those who perpetrated this heinous crime are apprehended, treated as criminals, prosecuted and punished to serve as a deterrent to future perpetrators of similar acts. The Center is thus encouraged by the fact that the Ghana Police Service is investigating what appears to be a politically motivated crime, and is confident the criminals will be apprehended.

As the Ghana Police Service conducts its investigations into the matter, CDD-Ghana urges all political parties to draw lessons from this incident, albeit unfortunate, to foster the democratic spirit of contestation of ideas instead of the use of violence in resolving differences. The Center urges the leadership of political parties to denounce members who carry out criminal activities, treat all such persons as criminals, and allow the law to take its course. CDD-Ghana further calls on the family and supporters of the deceased to remain calm and cooperative with the Police in its investigations.

CDD-Ghana commends the Ghana Police for actions taken so far and expects the Police Service to continue in this path, conduct thorough investigations, and bring perpetrators to book.

Once again, CDD-Ghana joins many other Ghanaians to express our condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Mahama Adams.