President John Mahama has blamed the police for Sunday’s clashes between supporters of the NPP and NDC.
“Only last Saturday we almost had a clash which was unfortunate, if any of those firearms had been fired and someone had dropped dead it would have been a completely different story. I think we should be preventive enough in our actions to prevent such things. ...I think that the police at Nima should have been better briefed knowing that this group was passing through and then we should have taken appropriate safeguards to ensure that such a thing doesn’t happen,” Mr Mahama said when he met some labour unions at the Flagstaff House.
The clashes happened as supporters of the two parties converged on the vicinity of the NPP flag bearer’s Nima residence as they simultaneously held their Keep Fit activities. A few warning shots were fired.
Mr Mahama said: “By my nature, I’m not a person who encourages violence and I’ll never encourage violence. If any such thing will happen, it will not be because I have provoked it."
Mr Akufo-Addo and the NPP claim the NDC supporters threw stones into his residence, a situation that sparked the firing of the warning shots by the three-time flag bearer’s security detail.
Mr Mahama indicated that “we will avoid the flashpoints that create that kind of situation” and charged the country’s law enforcers to be proactive in preventing any violence or misconduct from party supporters in the build-up to the December 7 polls.
He also charged members of the public and various stakeholders to hold politicians to order.
“When we (politicians) ratchet up the political rhetoric, you should feel free and confident to call us to order,” the president added.
Meanwhile, the United States of America has condemned the attack on the residence of Nana Akufo-Addo.
“The US is deeply disappointed by the targeting of the home and family of the primary opposition presidential candidate,” Department of State Press Director Elizabeth Trudeau said at the Daily Press Briefing on Monday, November 14, 2016.
"We condemn all violence in Ghana including political violence in the period leading to, during, and immediately following Ghana’s elections scheduled for 7 December. Ghanaians from across the political spectrum have worked hard to build one of the leading democracies in Africa. We call on all Ghanaians to remain peaceful and respect the democratic process.
“We specifically call on candidates, their parties and their supporters to reaffirm their pledges to renounce violence and settle any disputes through the judicial process.” The US government said it will revoke or refuse visas of any politician that incites violence in connection with the polls.
Also, the British government has condemned the violence. “We condemn all violent acts by the supporters of any political party, including any occurring as a result of holding electoral campaign events close to the private homes of rival candidates,” the British High Commission said in a statement.
“The UK is a great supporter of Ghana’s democracy and of maintaining its electoral record. We admire the open and energetic nature of its campaigns. We believe that violence has absolutely no place in the electoral process,” the statement continued, adding: “We, therefore, call on all Ghana’s political actors to promote peace, and to respect Ghana’s electoral and constitutional processes. All political parties should strongly urge their supporters to refrain from, and indeed actively condemn any violence, incitement or intimidation which only serves to undermine democracy.”
The UK, like the US has also threatened to refuse or revoke the visas of anyone that engages in or incites political violence.
The UK noted that it would continue to work with Ghanaian institutions, including the Electoral Commission, Police, Judiciary, National Peace Council, civil society groups and the media to support Ghana’s efforts to hold credible, peaceful and fair elections while remaining entirely neutral.
Source: Classfmonline
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nnkwasiase3m k3k3. What are they trying to say? NDC supporters intentionally went to the house of Akufo Addo to do this so called keep fit. They knew what they were doing. Instead of condemning the attack they are slowly using this as some type of excuse and deflecting the blame from themselves.
What is all this ***barred word***? This was not a clash. Why would NDC supporters be doing their so called "keep fit" near the house of Akufo Addo? Of all the places that they could have gone for keep fit they decided to converge in front of Akufo Addo's house?? This is absolute ploy. ns3mfoo paa. This has to stop. We are better than this. Really.
Its a shame John, was this really important? why bother? there were police men with them, if not then the walk was illegal, we have been in this country where people have been redused walks & demostration because rhe police claimed they dont have the needed resources & have gone to court to get injunctions so why this Mr HYPOCRITE? If you say this now then iy means the walk wasnt legal so the organisers shd be procecuted,but ehy bother because you are known for releasing convicts so no need to ask you to proscecute them,My prayer is that Gh is a peaceful place & this sort of things should not be allowed so go stick your bloody excuses up ur face good for nothing ywerp.
Liar. You were part of the health walk so you can equally be blamed. Where were you when your people stopped at Nana Addo's house? Was there a route through the house? Please spare us. We know by your nature, you instigate people and stay cool as if you know nothing about what happened.
I don't think they asked permission from the police, knowing very well they would not approve of the route! In times such as these the police should've been notified and they should have accompanied this congress of bab00ns to stay on route! The mere fact that ako Gunn was one of them, and the fact that the president was SUPPOSED to have been part of this health walk but decided to stay away at the last minute, exposes that he Mahama knew about this plan and wanted to look blameless. Now he has it! The only throng that can hurt ndc people is revoking and denying visas because with their johnny come lately attitude it will pain them not to be able to travel and brag to the rest of the bab00ns back home in the congress!
jonathan lagos, you are a disgrace to your party! dont you have any dignity? You worse than a guttter rat!!!
prez mahama, i have supported and backd you on peacefmonline more than other hypocrites here all this time, please, allow me to suckkk ur dickkkk, and kiss your anussss to show you that I am ready to disgrace myself and do anything for you!!!! NDC forever, Long live Mahama.
THIS WICKED, POWER-DRUNK AND BLOOD-THIRSTY GOON PRESIDENT JOHN MAHAMA WAS THE MASTER-MIND BEHIND THE BOTCHED ATTACK AND PLAYING OSTRICH NOW!!!!!! EVERY EFFORT BY THIS INCOMPETENT ***barred word*** PRESIDENT TO SUBVERT THE PEOPLES WILL IS GOING TO FAIL MISERABLY!!!!!
Yes the powers that be have spoken and now you are shivering.is it not you who accused your opponent of masterminding the violent.now you have shifted the goal post and blaming the police.you and your party does all sorts of attacks against your opponent then turn round to blame the victim,but let me tell you thse powers that be are not phuuls,they know whatever is going on in the country,so keep on instigating violence against your opponents then turn round to behave as an angle.
Mahama just learnt that where his power ends, thats the genesis of the powers of Britain and united States. Had these two powers remained mute, propandaga machine would be starting to roil .