Volta MPs complain - but NPP says it's a ploy

The Evening News reports that the MPs of the Volta Region has in a statement signed by 12 out of the 18 of them expressed shock, disgust and alarm at reported news of unleashing of violence, on the minority groups by NPP members in Ashanti Region.

"We are equally appalled by the apparent tacit approval given by the hierarchy of the NPP as demonstrated by the total silence or denial from the NPP leadership since the unleashing of these senseless and murderous acts by their supporters in the Ashanti Region", they said.

The MPs said they believed and still do believe that elections must constitute a renewal of and consolidation of democratic practice, national unity and cohesion and not instruments for potential national destabilisation.

The statement called on Voltarians domiciled in the Ashanti Region to take necessary steps to protect themselves and their properties while it urged the National Security to take immediate steps to secure the safety of all Ghanaians, irrespective of where they might be lawfully living.

The NPP has however strongly countered the NDC's allegations describing them as orchestrated campaign machination to muddy the political environment in the run-up to the December 28 run- off.

In a statement signed by the party's campaign manager, Mr Jake Obetsebi Lamptey titled, 'Beware NDC', it described the allegations as one of several decisions by the NDC, as most vicious and potentially destabilising of the unity of the country.

It said documents that the NPP had laid hands on point to messages to be put out that Ashantis hate Northerners and Ewes and will sack them from the South if Mr Kufuor wins the presidency. "Accordingly, orchestrated acts, supported by the necessary propaganda, have been initiated to paint a false picture of people of these ethnic groups being persecuted by Ashantis, particularly Akans as a whole."

The statement reiterated the need for extreme caution in these extra ordinary times "since Ghana cannot afford to travel the tortuous and hazardous path of either election-related or tribally- provoked civil conflicts."