The National Democratic Congress (NDC) is warning of “real danger” if violent attacks by NPP-linked vigilante groups are not brought to an end.
The party at a news conference in Accra said operations of Invincible and Delta Forces are similar to how Nigerian terrorist group, Boko Haram, started.
NDC National Chairman, Kofi Portuphy, said the impunity with which the two groups conduct their activities has dented the image of the country.
He warned, “The real danger in not dealing swiftly and ruthlessly with insipid domestic political terrorism is that it can easily grow uncontrollably into armed terrorism of international proportion.”
There were pockets of attacks on some state institutions and individuals after the NPP was declared winners of the 2016 general elections. Groups linked to the NPP were largely responsible for the attacks.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo The Invincible Forces massed up at the Drivers and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) under the guise of protecting it from officials of the past government. Another group, Delta Force, also stormed the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council to assault the newly appointed Regional Security Coordinator, George Agyei.
Members of the group had argued Mr Agyei played no role in the struggle to bring the NPP into power. They appealed to the President to appoint their leader who was instrumental in the party’s 2016 campaign.
There was public outrage following the attack and subsequently, 21 members of the group were arrested. They were arraigned before a Kumasi Circuit court, but out of the 21 only 13 people turned up for the hearing.
Minutes after the Presiding judge had directed the men to be remanded, some Delta Force members numbering 50 stormed the place to free the 13. The Inspector General of Police (IGP), David Asante Apeatu, had said the 13 fled through the backdoor reserved for the judge. The 13 men turned themselves in and have been granted bail in the sum of GHC10,000 with two sureties each.
They also pleaded guilty to a charge of escaping lawful custody and were sentenced to a fine of 200 penalty units and a bond of good behaviour.
Some of the 13 Delta Force escapees at the court The President after a retreat at the Peduase Lodge in Aburi said the conduct of Delta Force had no place in the law-governed country that he was determined to build.
He cautioned Ghanaians against taking the law into their hands, warning perpetrators will be dealt with in accordance with due process.
But the NDC said rather than sounding a loud warning to members of the two groups, the President chose to “cynically pontificate.”
“As a lawyer, President Akufo-Addo is an officer of the court and should, therefore, be concerned when the court is physically attacked and the Presiding judge threatened, but President Akufo-Addo doesn’t seem to care,” Mr Portuphy said.
He described the court’s judgment on the unlawful escape from custody of the 13 as “shambolic and theatrical,” and that it will have grave ramifications for law and order in the country.
Source:Myjoyonline