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The Akatsi North Constituency Chairman of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), Edward Prince Aglago has stated that he does not recognize a group calling itself ‘NDC youth group’, whose spokesperson threatened the life of the speaker of Parliament, Edward Doe Adjaho.

Forgive Awudi is alleged to have threatened the life of the speaker of parliament on an Accra based private radio station, Adom FM on September 6, 2015, saying the speaker is interfering in the upcoming parliamentary primary of the party in the constituency.

Mr. Aglago has, therefore, called for the immediate arrest of Forgive Awudi, spokesperson of the group.

He explained that his constituency does not recognize the so-called youth group in the area, and called on the security agencies to as a matter of urgency, arrest Forgive Awudi, if threat to life of a person is unlawful because the NDC in the Akatsi North Constituency would not condoned the acts of members or sympathizers who hide behind the party to perpetrate wrongdoing in society.

Addressing members of the media at the constituency capital, Ave-Dajpa , Chairman Aglago wondered how the so-called youth group that is tarnishing the image of the party, which also call itself “Friends of Steven Torkpo (FOST),” a parliamentary aspirant in the constituency could easily attempt to represent the entire NDC, as a party.

Mr. Aglago stated that the NDC as a social democrat, value respect for the elderly in society as part of its core values and that when a group of youth decided to go public to denigrate no mean a person than the Speaker of Parliament among others, the necessary punishment by law should be meted out to them to deter others with similar intentions.

He said the party has come of age, emphasizing that he NDC is not a violent party, and that, “as executives, we would not stoop so low to any group or individuals to destroy the image of the party.”

The NDC chairman said the constituency executives would be organizing a meeting with all parliamentary aspirants to ensure that they go about their campaign activities peacefully without destroying the image of the party, which they intend, represent in the area.

He continued that it was very unfortunate that the so-called group also raised a number of allegations against the Akatsi North District Chief Executive and the incumbent Member of Parliament, who he described as hard working and transformational leaders.

He, however, noted that the allegations were baseless since the former Member of Parliament (MP) and the incumbent MP have nothing to do with the primaries.

He stressed that the conduct of Awudi and the alleged youth ought to be condemned without any reservation because the behavior was not only a calculated attempt to damage the hard won reputation of the Speaker, MP and the hard working DCE, but also a deliberate attempt to discredit the party to create the impression that all was not well with it, which is contrary to the peace and progress of the party in the constituency.

Mr. Aglago said Awudi accused the Speaker of trying to influence chiefs and opinion leaders in the area to ensure that nobody within the party tries to contest against the incumbent MP, Mr. Peter Nortsu Kotoe.

Continuing, he said such unguarded statements infringe on the traditional practices and values in the area, which he sees as an attempt to debase the respected chiefs, describing it as very unfortunate.

The Akatsi North NDC constituency Chairman continued that the spokesperson for the so called DNC youth in the Constituency tried to link the District Chief Executive (DCE) Mr. James Gunu to corrupt practices when he alleged that the DCE bought an old tractor from Ada and repainted it and later presented it to the Assembly as if it was a new one following the decision of the Assembly to purchase a tractor to aid farming farmers in the District.

Mr. Aglago noted that all the allegations including the non-performance of the DCE and MP were a clear indication that Awudi was not in touch with his home District that was why he did not know that the Akatsi-North District is one of the fastest developing districts in the Volta region which was commended for its focus on bringing the needed development to the people under the leadership of Mr. Gunu, who received many commendations from institutions such as the Public Accounts Committee and the Volta Regional Coordinating Council (VRCC) among others.

He said the chiefs and people in the district have on a number of occasions openly expressed their satisfactions about the work of the Assembly which even though one of the newest districts, had held in transforming the area to a more appreciable level therefore the party executives were equally happy with the work of the Assembly.

The Akatsi North Constituency Communications Director of the NDC, Mr. Patrick Kwame Ahiabu pointed out that NDC had a well-structured communication channel that aggrieved members had to use in addressing any form of misunderstanding from the constituency level to the regional through to national and that by the time such cases reach the regional executives, it would have been amicably settled.