“We’ll Activate Our Self Defense Right If Government Fails To Act Responsibly”- NDC Warns Akufo-Addo

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A release from eastern regional communication Bureau of the opposition National Democratic Congress, NDC sends a stern warning to the Akufo-Addo led NPP government to act responsibly and resoundingly else they activate their self defense rights.

The release signed by the regional communication director of the party, William Ampomah Darlas reveal that happenings in the ongoing voter registration exercise in the Asuogyaman Constituency in the eastern region, two separate military groups; one uniformed and the other non-uniformed, have been deployed to the constituency under the guise of providing security in the ongoing voter registration exercise. 

According to NDC, they are reliably informed that the uniformed military men are being led by Lieutenant Daniel Opoku whiles the non-uniformed troop is commanded by one Sergeant Bio, “who has resorted to brandishing offensive weapons at registration centres to inculcate fear in poor and harmless residents. A case in point is his unprofessional attitude of scaring registrants with a gun at the Senchi registration centre on day 2 of the exercise”. 

They therefore send a stern warning to the NPP government to withdraw the men else they activate their self defense rights.

“Unequivocal evidence available shows how these non-uniformed thugs are beating up poor residents of Asuogyaman and physically preventing them from registering, an act which fundamentally violates the Electoral Commission’s regulation governing the registration exercise i.e. Constitutional Instrument 126 (C.I. 126). These thugs and military men are used to physically prevent anyone they suspect is not qualified to register and in the process disrupt the whole registration exercise. These repeated incidents happen in the the percieved strongholds of the NDC and normally disrupts the registration for several minutes. NDC party agents are also not spared this barbaric assault. Under the Command of Sergeant Bio, an NDC party agent was repeatedly slapped by a thug for no apparent reason. When an official complain was lodged at the Atimpoku Police station and case subsequently sent to the Senchi court, the accused (thug) failed to appear.”  – the statement reads.

However, the party asks why areas like Nkawkaw, Ofoase Ayirebi, Akim Oda etc do not witness such deployment.

We are demanding an immediate recall of the deployed military from the Asuogyaman constituency. 

This abuse of state power to attack the very citizens whose safety and security the Akufo-Addo government ought to ensure is generating animosity and needless tension in the Asuogyaman constituency, a hitherto peaceful constituency. 

The livelihood of innocent residents is also being greatly disrupted. 

“Should the government fail to recall these “military men” to the barracks, the NDC will be left with no other option than to take steps to protect our members in the Asuogyaman constituency in all forms possible. We have an inherent right of self defense and we may activate it if the government fails to act responsibly and reasonably.” – the release maintained.

By: Nana Gyasi | Radio 1 | Ghana