Former President John Mahama
National Democratic Congress (NDC) Flagbearer
hopeful, John Mahama, has responded to the eruption of violence during
the Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election with a reminder of the NDC’s own
capacity for violence.
The former President said his party was prepared to advise itself
after one person was shot and others injured during some confusion at the La
Bawaleshie Presby School polling centre.
The NDC and the
governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) have traded accusations in the aftermath of
the incident, saying the other party orchestrated the tensions which marred the
election.
Speaking to
party supporters in Adaklu, Mr. Mahama said: “the NPP is taking this power
as a matter of life and death.”
Out of respect for the constitution, he said the
NDC had been acting docile but is ready to revolt if the perceived
intimidation from the government continues.
“We respect the constitution of this country
and NDC is a democratic country and that is why we abide by the rules of the
constitution. But the same constitution says that Ghanaians should resist
anybody who attempts to subvert the constitution and when you go rampaging with
forces and intimidating people when they come out and vote, you are subverting
Ghana’s constitution and we have the right to resist you.”
Mr. Mahama acknowledged the NDC’s political roots, which
contributed two coup d’etats to Ghana’s history, saying “when it comes to
unleashing violence, nobody can beat us in unleashing violence.”
“I want to
sound a caution that NDC has a revolutionary root and when it comes to
unleashing violence no one can beat us to that. It is just that we midwifed
this country’s democracy and that is why we must be the first to respect it.
That is why we are acting as a party that is docile and respecting the rule of
law. But if we believe that the government cannot protect our people and we
believe that the government is using its vigilante groups and illegal forces to
intimidate and harass and injure our people, then we may have to advise
ourselves,” he added.
The NDC withdrew from the Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election
following the shooting incident and ordered its polling agents and observers from
the area.
Independent
observers and media reports have noted that some of the NDC’s complaints are
justified as observers have criticised what has been described as
uncoordinated, excessive and intimidating security protocols.
The Member of
Parliament for Ningo Prampram, Samuel Nartey George, was at the wrong end of
some security personnel as he is seen being struck in the face by two security
personnel in a viral video.
The widow of
the late MP for Ayawaso West Wuogon, Lydia Alhassan, emerged victorious in
the poll with 12, 041 votes representing 68.30%.
Despite the
boycott, the NDC’s Delali Kwasi Brempong polled 5, 341 votes representing
30.52% whiles William Dowokpor of the Progressive People’s Party (PPP) and
Clement Boadi of the Liberal Party of Ghana both polled 102 and 17 votes
respectively.
-Citifmonline
