The Opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has proposed that the National Peace Council be appointed as the mediator for the meeting with the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to disband militia groups.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has called on the leadership of the two main leading political parties, National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to help find a lasting solution the menace of political vigilantism in Ghana.
According to the President, citizens and future generations would not forgive the current leaders, if they sit aloof for the country’s peace to be undermined by politically related violence.
President Akufo-Addo made the call when he presented the 2019 State of the Nation Address in Parliament on Thursday, February 21, 2019.
“The time has come for us to put to end political-related violence,” he said, adding that “Our children and grandchildren will not forgive us” if the country’s peace and security is undermined.
In a letter signed by the party’s National Chairman, Mr. Ofosu-Ampofo and addressed to President Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo-Addo, argued that such a meeting due to recurrent mistrust and suspicion between the two parties should have a credible national mediator.
He noted that the move must be widened to cover all political parties as well as civil society organisations, the media, the police, the military and other relevant stakeholders.
"Your Excellency, I believe that with these as mediator and facilitators, we can look forward to a robust interaction that can only culminate in a successful resolution of the matter," a part of the letter read.
Read Full Statement Below;
H.E. The President
Jubilee House, Kanda
I write this as a formal response to the call you made in the Sessional Address you delivered on February 21, 2019, to our respective parties for a meeting to discuss the way forward toward the disbandment of political vigilantism in Ghana.
Your Excellency, in view of the gradual development of this phenomenon in recent years, and the dangerous escalation in which it was manifested at the recent by-election at Ayawaso West Wuogon, we cannot but agree with you in principle that a serious national effort should be made to address this problem once and for all. We will, therefore, avail ourselves of the opportunity whenever at the pleasure of Your Excellency and at a venue convenient for the purpose.
In agreeing to be part of this effort, may I kindly set out the position of the NDC in direct reference to the nature and thrust of your request in order that you may better appreciate the spirit in which we approach this all-important national issue.
Your Excellency may be aware that in the recent past, several civil society organizations, religious and faith-based organizations, political parties and their leaders and even the media, have expressed a worrying and deep-seated concern about this phenomenon.
And as the phenomenon has appeared to take some root in the fabric of our politics, it is only prudent that the call for a disbandment is extended to not only the National Democratic Congress and the New Patriotic Party but all political parties, civil society organisations, representatives of the media, representatives of the military, police and other security agencies, as well as any other relevant stakeholders.
In addition, in view of the often recurrent mistrust and suspicion that characterize such interactions by political parties, and the pain and suffering that vigilantism may have created especially in the recent past, it is of the utmost importance that a mediator with national credibility be appointed to drive the entire process in that regard, my party, the NDC, propose that the National Peace Council be appointed as the mediator for such a meeting.
We also think that the peace council will require as collaborators, institutions that may have unimpeachable knowledge and expertise in providing support for such efforts.
And in this regard the NDC propose that the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Center (KAIPTC), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) and the Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG) join the Peace Council to facilitate the process.
Your Excellency, I believe that with these as mediator and facilitators, we can look forward to a robust interaction that can only culminate in a successful resolution of the matter.
I wish to make another observation in order to properly situate the intended interaction between our respective parties in the proper perspective.
Your Excellency has already set in motion a Commission of Inquiry into the incident that characterized the Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election. My party’s understanding of the remit of the commission includes the possibility that it will set out a road map for the resolution of this phenomenon. If this assumption is correct, do we allow the commission to conclude with its report before we engage in our discussion on the same matter, or we proceed regardless of the recommendations of the Commission?
Secondly, we are aware that the revelations at the Commission establish clearly that elements of the vigilante groups apparently sponsored by your party have already been absorbed into the security system, a development that dramatically changes the normal character of vigilantes as we have come to know it, and gives it a real potential for instability as the Ayawaso Bye Election amply demonstrated.
In view of these observations, therefore, may I humbly reiterate the issues set out in a statement my party February 22, 2019, in which we stated that:
a. The government takes immediate steps to disband and disarm the illegal Armed Force being maintained by the National Security Council
b. That the government abandons its plans and rather instructs its agents in the regions to stop the state~sanctioned recruitment of political party thugs for the purpose of the 2020 general election
l conclude this by sending to you my highest regards.
Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo
National Chairman
Source: Josephine Acheampomaa/Peacefmonline/[email protected]
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YOU HAVE DISGRACED YOUR CHURCH. BIG SHAME TO CHURCH OF PENTICOST. THIS CHURCH IS NOT THE LORD,S CHURCH. HOW COULD AN ELDER OF A CHURCH TATES SUCH WICK THINKING. I DDO NOT BELIEVE IN THIS KIND OF PENTICOST CHURCH. SHAME
Pentecost Elder my foot indeed. What a hypocrite.
This *cr1m*1nal* 1d*1*0*t* NDC chairman parading as a Pentecost Elder should be arrested period. This *cr1m*1nal* 1d*1*0*t* can't *f000*000L*. He's nothing but a hypocrite conman. How can you call your party VIPERS to insult the Chairman of the Peace Council and at the same time want the to mediate and help find solution to political *cr*1*m*nal* violence created by NPP and NDC? Is he a *f000*000L* or he thinks we're as gullible and 1d*1*0*t*s* as his sycophant gullible supporters? He doesn't even have the courage to address the issue; and he's the leader of a party that want to come to power? He's a coward and *cr*1*m*nal*. I feel sorry for our Zongo boys; they're always the victims and the perpetrators. These two greedy parties always use and abuse them to gain power. Very sad indeed. Shame on this Pentecost Elder because we're now aware of his through colours. Please, Bra Photo, save us the agony of your double personalities (Bible and Gun) and go to hell.
fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuullllllllllllllllllllllish OFOSU AMPOFO. No wonder you are a photographer
Who do you think you are kidding? One can also tell by the tone of your letter that you are not serious. I am even surprised that you are an elder in the church of Pentecost. We are more interested in your leaked audio recording than your prejudicial commends on the commission's work
THIS MAN CANNOT BE TRUSTED. HE IS FAKEEE AND PRETENTIOUSSSS. WAS HE NOT THE ONE WHO DENIGRATE THE CHAIRMAN OF THE PEACE COUNCIL? AND EC. THIS OFOSU AMPOFO CLAIM NOT TO HAVE FAITH IN THE POLICE AND EC AND SO BROUGH AZOKA BOYS TO AYAWASO, BUT WHEN THEY HAD THEIR OWN PRIMARIES HE RELIED ON THE POLICE AND EC. HE HAS NO CONSCIENCE. HE KNOWS VERY WELL THAT THE POLICE AND EC WORK ARE GENUINE, BUT HE STILL CRITICISE THEM IN ORDER TO USE AZOKOA BOYS WHEN DEALING WITH OUTSIDERS OF HIS PARTY TO CAUSE CHAOS. HE IS NOW PRETENDING IN ATTEMPT TO DECEIVE GHANAIANS. THE POLICE SHOULD IMMEDIATELY ARREST HIM IF HE FAILS TO REPORT HIMSELF. THE SAME PEOPLE WILL TURN AROUND TO CONDEMN THE POLICE AS WEAK AND INEFFECTIVE IF THE POLICE FAIL TO DEAL WITH THE MATTER INADEQUATELY.
This is very typical of politicians. After hatching diabolical plans to destabilize the country by kidnapping and maiming citizens, you turn around and skin your teeth as if to offer an olive branch to peace but you are nothing but a wolf in sheep clothing.
LUCIFER, speaking like and angel. I wish my Church (COP) has a copy of his EVIL tape. Let Apstle, Eric Nyamekye and the COP National executives lack fast to safe the image of the church from this EVIL elder!.