The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has called off their planned demonstration against the President, Nana Akufo-Addo and his New Patriotic Party (NPP) government.
Following attacks on some members of the NDC by people believed to be NPP supporters including the party's vigilante group, 'Invincible Forces' after the change government, the youth wing of the party had planned to embark on a walk on the principal streets of Accra on February 24, to protest against what they call as a "lawless culture that has been introduced by the new NPP government".
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In a letter notifying the police on the event in accordance with the Public Order Act, dated February 9, the National Youth Organiser, Sidii Abubakar Musah explained that:
"The purpose of the peaceful walk is to draw the attention of the general public and International communities to the culture of intimidation, fear mongering and general harassments, dismissals and seizures of private properties of NDC officials and members".Â
But according to the party's General Secretary, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, the demonstration has been put on hold for now.
"We are calling off the planned demonstration of our Youth Wing against NPP violence scheduled for February 24, as a sign of good faith", he said in a statement on Wednesday.
This decision comes after the President's call during his maiden State of the Nation Address at the Parliament House in Accra on Tuesday, February 21 for an end to political violence and encouragement for peaceful co-existence among all Ghanaians
Assuring of his resolve ensure that all Ghanaians irrespective of their political affiliations have adequate security, he stated "wrongdoing has no political colour, and I do not subscribe to the lawlessness of political party supporters".
"This call, though belated, is welcome news for the NDC and indeed all peace-loving Ghanaians and it is our hope that the President is not only paying lip service to his call for the IGP, Asante-Apeatu and his men to crack the whip and deal mercilessly with all forms of lawlessness", the statement read, adding that "in this regard, we wish to request the President to disband and demobilise his illegal vigilante group, the Invincible Forces with immediate effect".
Below is the NDC's statement:
President's Assurance Of Cessation Of NPP Post-Election Violence
The National Democratic Congress notes with a lot of hesitant interest that President Nana Akuffo-Addo in his maiden State of the Nation Address, eventually called on the lawless rampaging members of his party to stop all acts of violence and brigandry that they have been consciously unleashing on innocent citizens, especially members or perceived supporters of the NDC, with the tacit support and goading-on of the Acting National Chairman of the NPP, Mr. Freddie Blay, as well as other leading members of the Party.
This call, though belated, is welcome news for the NDC and indeed all peace-loving Ghanaians.
In our last two press conferences, we had cause to demand from Nana Akuffo-Addo; a swift call to stop his lawless Invisible Forces from engaging in their beastly and barbaric acts.
Our calls went unheeded and the brigandry of the Invisible Forces resulted in injuries, destruction of property, and the loss of precious lives.
The inability of the security forces to protect lives and property compelled us to ask our members to employ the first law of nature, which is, self-defense: as the only way of fending off the fiendish attacks of the Nana Akuffu-Addo's Invisible Forces.
In as much as our call to our supporters could have escalated the violence, that was was the only option available to us.
We intend to view this belated call by president Nana as a genuine effort on his part to rein in the rampaging and marauding members of his party and it is our expectation that his gesture will restore the peace Ghanaians enjoyed under the NDC.
It is our hope that the President is not only paying lip service to his call for the IGP, Asante-Apeatu and his men to crack the whip and deal mercilessly with all forms of lawlessness.
In this regard, we wish to request the President to disband and demobilise his illegal vigilante group, the Invincible Forces with immediate effect.
On our part, we are calling off the planned demonstration of our Youth Wing against NPP violence scheduled for February 24, as a sign of good faith.
We believe in peaceful coexistence and we see the President's call as an important precondition for peace in Ghana. We therefore urge him to walk the talk.
Johnson Asiedu Nketia
(NDC, General Secretary)
February 22, 2017.