Kufuor urges calm in NPP after Tuesday mayhem

Former President John Kufuor has expressed disquiet and unhappiness at the violence and thuggery that marred a press conference by the main opposition New Patriotic Party's Chairman and General Secretary in Accra on Tuesday.

In a statement signed by his Spokesperson Frank Agyekum, and copied to StarrFMonline.com, Kufuor said: “Thuggery is not part of our party’s tradition. It is alien to us.”

“Those responsible for the disturbances cannot claim to be true members of the NPP,” the former president noted, adding: “I call for calm from all who feel aggrieved in one way or the other and urge them to use laid rules in the party to seek redress for their complaints while we accord the national executives the necessary freedom and space to operate.”

“We should all return to the true tenets of the party, which encourage frank exchange of views and accommodation of one another in healthy debate free from intimidation or fear”, Kufuor urged.

A mob of irate machete-wielding youth and gun-toting party supporters stormed the NPP’s headquarters to attack Paul Afoko and Kwabena Agyapong mid-way through their press conference Tuesday afternoon.

It was a spillover from recriminations and divisions within the leadership of the biggest opposition party over recent changes made at the Communication Directorate by the General Secretary and Chairman.

Hordes of Police Officer had to rush to the party’s Asylum Down base to quell the pandemonium that ensued.