John Dramani Mahama, flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has called on Ghana’s moral leaders to speak out against political violence as the country heads toward the December elections.
Speaking to members of the Upper West Regional House of Chiefs in Wa during his three-day campaign tour, Mahama expressed concern over the rising incidents of political violence, blaming them on a culture of impunity within the political establishment.
He emphasized that operatives of political violence continue their actions because they feel protected by those in power, rather than being held accountable for their crimes.
Mahama warned that unless strong measures are taken to curb these violent acts, the situation could escalate, threatening the safety and peace of citizens. He urged decisive action to ensure offenders are brought to justice.
“The reason why this continues is because there is impunity. Those who have those weapons know that nothing will happen to them; they will do anything and get away with it because they are operatives of the system and belong to one political establishment,” he said.
Referencing Sunday’s clash between supporters of the NDC and NPP at Mamobi in Accra, Mahama said Ghanaians should brace themselves for more such attacks because the government will not take any action against the perpetrators.
“Just watch, nothing will happen to them. Like Ayawaso West Wuogon, even if a commission is set and says these people should be dealt with, the government won’t deal with them and as long as the government doesn’t deal with them, others will be emboldened to do the same thing,” he said.
The former president, however, maintained that the NDC is a peace-loving party but cannot continue to be a victim of peace, especially during elections in the country.
“It gets to a time when people must defend themselves and if this continues a time will come when others also arm themselves with weapons and it won’t be pleasant,” he said.
He assured the chiefs that the next NDC government will revisit all high-profile criminal cases that occurred during the Nana Addo-Bawumia-led government.
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