THE New Patriotic Party has strongly condemned yesterday's unprovoked attack at the Nima residence of the party’s Presidential Candidate, Nana Akufo-Addo, by members of the governing National Democratic Congress, describing the incident as an obvious mark of desperation and open show of impunity.
According to the opposition party, the decision by NDC supporters to mass up around its flagbearer’s residence and the attempt to enter the house were all part of calculated, violent, and provocative acts designed to bait the NPP into responding in similar fashion.
The NDC thugs, who were part of a campaign walk for President John Mahama, attempted to forcibly enter the residence of Nana Akufo-Addo, their actual target, who was away in the Brong Ahafo campaigning.
Nana Akufo-Addo’s wife, Rebecca Akufo-Addo, two of their daughters and a baby granddaughter escaped the attacks unhurt.
The NDC thugs, without any provocation, fired a shot when Mrs Rebecca Akufo-Addo's car left the house and had reached the Nima Police Station traffic light, on her way to Church.
They resorted to throwing stones, bottles and anything they could lay hands on, into the house when they were prevented entry by the security detail. They went ahead to tear down posters of the NPP Flagbearer. Strangely, there were police men around, but they just stood by helpless.
Even though the Nima Police Station is a stone-throw away from Nana Akufo-Addo's residence, it took an hour before police reinforcement came in.
Addressing the media on the attacks yesterday, John Boadu, Acting General Secretary of the NPP, said the party would not be coerced to descend into the gutters with the NDC because “the NPP is not violent, will not be violent and will resist violence” with all legitimate means.
He called on the National Peace Council, the Christian Council, and all Civil Society Organizations to let their voices be heard in condemnation of this violent act.
While it tries to calm its supporters from engaging in a reprisal attack, the NPP wants President Mahama to be “manifestly seen to be acting against the violence from his party.”
Explaining to the media what actually transpired, Mr Boadu said at around 7am, a large crowd of NDC supporters were embarking on a health walk, which they were told the President was scheduled to attend.
According to eye witnesses, all of a sudden, the NDC supporters without any provocation started hurling insults at the NPP Flagbearer. "But, it didn't stop there. At around 7:30am, the crowd continued massing up. Mrs. Rebecca Akufo-Addo's vehicle got to the traffic light, just 40 yards from the house when a gunshot was heard from the crowd,” he added.
John Boadu narrated that the security men guarding the house realised the house was under attack, as a section of the crowd began surging towards the gate of the in a clear attempt to enter.
“Before the NDC fired the shot, one of the guards approached them and demanded of them to leave, whereupon one of the NDC thugs pulled a knife on him, right in the presence of Auntie Becky's vehicle, but away from her view. The driver managed to manoeuvre away, thinking it was nothing serious at the time,” he stated.
Mr Boadu was shocked that despite the fact that the attack happened right in front of the police, they took no meaningful steps to protect the house of the flagbearer or to stop the violent supporters of the NDC from attacking the place.
He was, however, happy at “the bravery and intelligence of the small team of security guards protecting the house," stressing that "it was their decision to fire rounds of warning shots in the air that finally forced the crowd to beat a retreat."
The NPP, he said, found it unfortunate and surprising that it took about an hour for police reinforcement to arrive, stressing: "this is strange and very worrying considering the incident took place in Nima, at the heart of the capital and a five-minute police drive from the Police Headquarters."
According to John Boadu, the Police have to do more to protect law abiding Ghanaians, rather than playing to the whims and caprices of the ruling government.
He said: "The flagbearer's house has no Police protection and the fact that he lives right next to the Police station could not discourage the NDC from attacking the house. We do not want to use this opportunity to attack the Police. They are not our problem. The violent and desperate NDC are our problem."
The party views this act as childish, maintaining that for the NDC supporters to bring violence close to the residence of the leader of the opposition party and attempt to enter his house to attack his family is totally unacceptabl, something the party expects President Mahama to condemn.
"But, we want to send a strong warning to the President. We shall not be intimidated. We shall not be assaulted. We will use every constitutional force to protect ourselves and our properties. We believe we have a responsibility to protect our democracy and the only way to do so is not to allow the instruments of violence to have their way," the party stated.