Mustapha Gbande, Deputy General Secretary of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), has declared that any former appointee of President Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo-Addo wanted by the police will face arrest in Akwatia during the upcoming parliamentary by-election scheduled for September 2.
Speaking during an interview on Asempa FM’s Ekosiisen program monitored by Kumasimail.com, Gbande responded firmly to recent remarks by Assin South Member of Parliament, Ntim Fordjour, who allegedly threatened that violence would erupt in Akwatia if those responsible for the Ablekuma North disturbances were not held accountable.
Addressing the threat, Gbande said, “Ntim Fordjour claims there will be violence in Akwatia if nothing is done to those who caused the Ablekuma North violence.
“Let me make it clear, the NDC will conduct itself peacefully during the Akwatia by-election. However, those who have committed crimes such as money laundering, visa racketeering, and corruption, and who have evaded arrest, will be apprehended by the police if they come to Akwatia.”
When pressed by the host on whether the government’s delayed action on these crimes does not imply complicity, Gbande maintained that numerous New Patriotic Party (NPP) appointees from the previous administration are currently wanted by security agencies.
He added that some suspects have been elusive for years.
“We are not trivializing anything. There are many NPP appointees being sought by the police for defrauding people during their time in office,” he stated.
“Those who have used some of these ‘boys’ to commit crimes but couldn’t be caught in the last eight years, we will take the victims to Akwatia. If you come there, we will report you to the police to have you arrested. That will not be violence,” Gbande argued.
Gbande again warned that any NPP MP who has committed a crime should not come to Akwatia, or else the person will be arrested.
He said “If you are an MP and you’ve committed a crime that we haven’t yet addressed, if you come to Akwatia, you will not be on your way to Parliament, so the police will arrest you.”
Gbande urged the NPP to condemn the recurring threats of violence and to refrain from endorsing such rhetoric by some party officials on media platforms ahead of the election.
He emphasized, “Let the NPP know that regarding the threats of violence they have been making since last week, I have not heard the NPP leadership come forward to speak against them or to state that they do not endorse what some of their officers have been saying on radio and TV about perpetrating violence in Akwatia.”
He emphasized that the NDC intends to campaign peacefully, organizing primaries to select a credible candidate to represent Akwatia.
“Our focus is on peaceful engagement with the electorate. We will do everything possible to prevent violence that could tarnish the government’s and our party’s image. Unlike the record the NPP has set for itself, the NDC will not tolerate violence,” he added.
Gbande concluded by warning that any attempts to incite violence or evade the law will be met with decisive action by the NDC and security agencies during the Akwatia by-election period.
Source: www.Kumasimail/Kwadwo Owusu
