The chairperson of the Convention People’s Party (CPP) has said Ghanaians in general, and politicians in particular, must learn “a hard lesson” from the death of the NPP Upper East regional chairman Adams Mahama.

Mahama died on Thursday at the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital following an acid attack on him by some faceless assailants near his residence on Wednesday night. Fingers are already pointing at the national chairman of the opposition New Patriotic Party Paul Afoko and the general secretary Kwabena Agyepong as masterminds.

They have denied any involvement in the criminal act but the youth of the party, especially in the Upper East region are calling for their resignation. A brother of Afoko, Gregory Afoko, is reportedly in police custody over the issue.

Samia Nkrumah, who is the chairperson of the CPP said the party is “deeply saddened by the shocking killing” of Mahama.

“This gruesome murder of the NPP Regional Chairman is a tragic development that has gripped the whole nation over the last few days. This singularly evil act exposes the violent side of politics that distracts us from the task of nation building and divides us as a people. As a nation we need to meet this challenge and work to realize a united, socially cohesive and de-tribalized society.

“This is a hard lesson to all of us. As a nation we must resist politics based on ethnicity by shifting the post to development discourse that priorities how we can make progress as a country. We must fight intolerance and disregard for the rule of law,” she said in a statement.

“Let us resist all efforts to distract us from realizing our independence objective of realizing fair opportunities for all through developing our human and natural resource to the full benefit of our people.

“Our unity as a people must never be surrendered on any grounds and no Ghanaian nor African should suffer on grounds of ethnicity or religion or political belief. The CPP extends its heartfelt condolences to the family of Chairman, his friends and to the whole NPP family,” she concluded.