Communications Minister Haruna Iddrisu says the controversial all-die-be-die comment made by the NPP flag-bearer Nana Akufo-Addo can only be a call to shed blood, no matter what interpretations the NPP provides.
He said Nana Addos comments are divisive, ethnocentric and will only come from a person desperate to be president.
The controversial comment has sparked widespread arguments in Ghanas media landscape with followers of the ruling National Democratic Congress and the opposition New Patriotic Party slugging it out at every chanced encounter.
The Campaign Manager of Nana Akufo-Addo, Boakye Agyarko told Joy News he is surprised that President John Mills will put the security on high alert over such a harmless comment.
He reiterated the comments were just a clarion call on government to be impartial in its dealings with all Ghanaians, adding justice must be seen to be served to all Ghanaians irrespective of ones political affiliation.
Boakye Agyarko noted that the examples in the Chereponi, Akwatia bye-elections where he claimed supporters of the NPP were victims of violent attacks by their opponents were examples of the intimidation by NDC hoodlums and a strategy to be employed in the 2012 elections.
He explained that the all-die-be die comment was an exhortation to party supporters to fight for democracy and not an incitement to violence.
Adding a biblical twist to his arguments, Boakye Agyarko quoted 2 Kings 11 and said a group of lepers were confronted with the threat of death as a result of stigmatisation-induced-poverty. The lepers resolved to go into the city and die fighting for their rights rather than staying outside the city and dying anyway.
He said the president must rather assure his opponents of justice, free and transparent election.
But the Communications Minister, Haruna Iddrisu said the call for fairness and justice cannot be equated to all-die-be-die.
He stated that allegations of political violence and perceived indifference by security personnel cuts across the political divide, insisting, no political party can use that as basis to foment trouble.
Quoting portions of the Presidents State of the Nation address to Parliament on Thursday, the Minister said the President is committed to transparent, free and fair elections in 2012.
He stated unequivocally that the President as the Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces has a responsibility to maintain peace at all times and will not negotiate that for anything.
He said Nana Addo erred grievously in his comments no matter what spin was put on it.
Story by Nathan Gadugah/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana
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Haruna Iddrisu: “All-die-be-die” is no panacea to political violence