General News of Thursday, 20 July 2017
Source: Graphic.com.gh
2017-07-20
Kofi Portuphy, National Chairman of NDC
The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has reacted to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s Tuesday media encounter and said the president failed to talk about “insecurity” in the country.
Addressing a press conference on Thursday, the National Chairman of the NDC, Mr Kofi Portuphy said the “nervous” government of President Nana Akufo-Addo and Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has turned the “peaceful” Ghana bequeathed to them by the Mahama administration into “a pool of blood” in just six months after taking office.
He said lawlessness has been allowed to fester under the Akufo-Addo administration with careless abandon.
According to Mr Kofi Portuphy, crime was being committed with “brazen bravado across the length and breadth of the country under President Akufo-Addo.
“The state of insecurity has given rise to fear filled anxiety among innocent Ghanaians who are struggling. Armed robbers and armed gangs are now operating with impunity and killing our policemen in broad day light without any form of fear and nor trepidation.”
“For the first time in the 4th Republican dispensation, a political party in the shape of the NPP has incorporated militancy and violent extremism into its way of operations. To give meaning to militancy and violence, a group of brigands and outright criminals have been assembled and given such blood clotting names as Invincible Forces, Delta Forces Kandaha Boys, Volta Crocodiles and also given official covering from the seat of government.”
Mr Portuphy said armed robbers now operate in broad daylight without any fear because the Akufo-Addo administration has emasculated the Ghana Police Service and other security agencies.
The NDC said the president gave his “tacit endorsement” to NPP’s “brigandry” to the extent that a senior police officer was assaulted by NPP thugs at the Flagstaff House without anyone being punished for it.
“The master plan is to weaken the resolve of the police and security services” and let armed robbers operate freely, Mr Portuphy said.
“Did we vote for change for us to be killed?” Mr Portuphy asked. “Is it not terrifying that our cherished police service is walking on its knees” to the extent that people are “gruesomely murdered” and no less a person than the Inspector General of Police appears helpless about the situation.
“A peaceful Ghana in only six months has suddenly become a pool of blood and innocent blood is being shed on daily basis,” Mr Porptuphy said.
“Why did the president not speak on restoring law and order?” the NDC wondered. Mr Portuphy said it was about time the president stopped “junketing” abroad and remained home to do some hard work and “not in this wishy-washy manner”.
“Why is Ghana bleeding so badly” under a “bloated Akufo-Addo government?” the opposition asked.
The NDC also demanded “full disclosure” of the president’s per diem on foreign travels. “Is it $5000 or $4000 as is being rumoured?” “How much do his aides also take? Is it $2000 or $1000 as being rumoured?”
The NDC said the Akufo-Addo government has a lot of “useless” and “amorphous” ministries that must be scrapped because they are putting a needless burden on the state purse.
“Let Ghanaians suffer in peace and not in turmoil”, Mr Portuphy told President Akufo-Addo.
