PRESS STATEMENT ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS ON SUNDAY THE 21ST OF DECEMBER 2008

THE NEED FOR ENSURING A CLEAN CAMPAIGN & NOT CREATING FURTHER POLARIZATION IN THE QUEST FOR WINNING THE PRESIDENCY

The National Democratic Congress has realized over the last week that the campaign for the Presidency is becoming more divisive, deceptive and incendiary. This is quite clear from recent media reportage on various issues. The public may recall the allegations that "hoodlums" allegedly associated with the NDC were planning to attack Pastor Mensa Otabil in the Saturday 13th of December issue of the Daily Graphic, and the Monday 15th of December Edition of the Daily Guide and the further reports in other newspapers on the same subject during the week. The undersigned being the Communications Director of the NDC issued a press statement on the subject on Monday the 15th of December denying the NDC's involvement with any such "hoodlums", and on Thursday the 18th of December the NDC had a press conference which was addressed by our Vice-Presidential Candidate, Hon. John Dramani Mahama where he quite clearly stated, that we had no knowledge of, nor any association with any such alleged plans of attack. Our Vice-Presidential Candidate further stated that we were aware that there were allegations of a so called "hit-list" being circulated in the media where it was again alleged that some person's associated with our party were plotting to harm prominent members of our society and that we had no knowledge of any of our members being involved in such plots and that we would wish that this matter is thoroughly investigated by the police. We trust that the police will investigate these allegations quickly and apprehend those responsible for spreading these falsehoods so that the people of this country can have their minds at rest.

It has further come to our knowledge that these allegations of violence, attack, mayhem, causing harm to innocent Ghanaians are going to be the subject of further allegations in sections of the media in the coming week. We believe that journalism as a profession has certain minimum professional and ethical standards - the basic ones being that the facts are sacred and should be clearly stated as such. Another basic requirement is that the facts ought to be ascertained before publications are made.

Similarly with political advertising the facts ought to be respected before putting out any placements and we would hope that the various media houses will also pay attention to this before accepting any political advertising placements. We believe that it is important to bear in mind that notwithstanding the fact that this is a closely fought contest at the end of the elections we will still need to co-exist with each other as one nation irrespective of our political differences, and that any attempts to inflame people's passions for or against a political party's candidate may lead to cracks within our society and body politic that may be difficult to repair .

We have reason to believe based on the information available to us, that some advertising placements will be made next week by persons who may or may not be directly related to any political party that can have the impact of creating fear and discontent amongst the general public. We have had that experience with some advertising purportedly placed on our behalf and we do not condone such actions and activities. We think that it is important to restate that a campaign based on deceit, and untruths can only create political tension and instability and that it is not in the interest of our country that this should be allowed to take place.

There is no NPP Ghana or NDC Ghana, there is only the Republic of Ghana and we must all work together to build a stronger and more united nation. We can not afford to promote anything else. In this last phase of the campaign where we decide which of the two contenders to the Presidency will emerge as the next President of the Republic of Ghana let us remember that the President is to be elected to serve the nation and not to rack up old wounds, create alarm and panic by peddling fiction and falsehood and thereby divide our nation. Why did we spend millions of cedis on National Reconciliation to try and heal our nation if the same issues that were supposed to be dealt with and closed are racked up once again, and exaggerated for political expediency?

The President should be responsible to ensure the cohesiveness of our society and not the disintegration of our society. Let us remember that the 28th of December is an event within the process of building our democracy, and it is in our common interest that we conduct ourselves such that we build a stronger more inclusive, more united Ghana after the election is over. Therefore we should be mature and responsible enough not do do "everything" to win the elections, and create divisions amongst the people to whom we will pledge our commitment to lead and serve, when all is said and done.

Hanna S. Tetteh Director of Communications National Democratic Congress