The Council of Elders of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has accused the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) of using the country\u2019s police service to intimidate the party\u2019s National Chairman, Samuel Ofosu Ampofo.<\/p>\n
Alhaji Mahama Iddrisu, who addressed the press on behalf of the party\u2019s Council of Elders on Thursday said there is a deliberate attempt by the government to clamp down on dissenting views by targeting people such as the NDC Chairman.<\/p>\n
The statement was on the back of an invitation<\/strong>\u00a0the Criminal Investigations Department of the Ghana Police Service extended to the NDC Chairman to report to the police on Thursday.<\/p>\n
The Police claimed Ofosu Ampofo\u2019s name had been mentioned by suspects in various kidnapping and fire incident cases in the country.<\/p>\n
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\u201cThis latest invitation, in our view, is yet another case of intimidation and harassment being employed by the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo Government, using the instrumentality of the Police, to instill fear in our Chairman and supporters of our party and to suppress dissenting voices in the country,\u201d Alhaji Mahama Iddrisu said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe intimidation has been taken a notch higher with yesterday\u2019s invitation from COP Mrs. Mrs Tiwaa Addo-Danquah on the outrageous basis that \u2018some persons picked up for interrogation and investigation in connection with kidnapping and fire outbreaks\u201d have told the police that our National Chairman is involved in these nation-wrecking activities. We dismiss this claim as a sinister fabrication and lie, conjured up by the Police CID and it\u2019s Director-General at the instigation of the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo- Addo Government,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Alhaji Mahama Iddrisu alleged that the police\u2019s invitation was also a diversionary tactic by the government to take the attention of Ghanaians away from growing lawlessness.<\/p>\n
The party further warned that the actions of the police and the government could undermine the country\u2019s democracy.<\/p>\n
While indicating that it was ready to assist the police to ensure that law and order prevail in the country, it will not stay unconcerned if its leaders are harassed.<\/p>\n
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\u201cWhile we remain committed to assisting the security agencies in any way we can to promote law and order, we will not look on docilely whilst our leaders are harassed in a bid to muzzle us as the largest opposition party,\u201d Alhaji Mahama Iddrisu, who is the First Vice Chairman of the Council of Elders said.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
NDC will not allow him honour invitation <\/strong><\/p>\n
He stressed the position of the party that it will not allow Mr. Ofosu Ampofo to honour the invitation because he \u201cis not under any compulsion or obligation to assist the police in their investigations.\u201d<\/p>\n
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\u201cIf the CID wishes to arrest our National Chairman, they can proceed to do so. We call on all our members to show solidarity with our National Chairman in these difficult times and to ensure that his freedom and liberty is not jeopardized by any of the vigilante forces that are at the disposal of this Government,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Former gov\u2019t officials will not cooperate with investigations<\/strong><\/p>\n
He announced that former government officials will no longer avail themselves to the various inquisitorial panels.<\/p>\n
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\u201cWe have taken note that the Government\u2019s policy of harassment has not been restricted to our National Chairman alone. It has extended to our former Ministers and former appointees. In the circumstances, we consider it no longer prudent for our former Ministers and appointees to cooperate in the numerous inquisitions going on into its period in government. In particular, our former Ministers and appointees will no longer answer questions before the numerous inquisition panels and bodies established to harass and persecute them; neither will they respond to the numerous intrusive and oppressive questionnaires administered to them.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe witch-hunting, the harassment, the humiliation and the undercover assault on the freedom and dignity of the NDC in particular and the opposition in general, could well turn out to be the Achilles Heel of the Nana Akufo-Addo Government for as has been said, \u201cwhere there is no justice, there is no peace,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
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