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General News of Friday, 7 September 2012

Source: Daily Democrat

NPP Wants Dr. Afari Gyan killed?

...As Prez.Kufuor Incites Supporters

The shocking revelation by Dr. Kwadjo Afari -Gyan, Commissioner for the Electoral Commission’s (EC) that he had received death threats because of the commission’s decision to create 45 new constituencies for the 2012 general elections is frosty and a worry trend in our democratic dispensation.
Dr. Afari-Gyan and his team have a constitutional mandate to create more constituencies to give true meaning and deepen to our young democracy is seen by some opposition elements as an obstacle in their quest for an electoral victory in the 2012 elections and therefore determined to kill at all cost for political expediency . This is political madness and extremist behaviour fuelled by greed and desperation must not be entertained.
Civil society groups, religious bodies, peace loving and the good people of Ghana must condemned this ‘Boko Haram’ tendencies creeping into our body politics putting the lives of ordinary and innocent public officials who are carrying out their legitimate duties in danger because their actions will not advance the course of some greedy politicians. Conscious effort is needed to block it from the political space before it becomes cancerous.
Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan eventhough has described the threat as a bluff and stated emphatically that nobody can intimidate him to perform his duties as mandated by law, the security agencies must be on the look-out to avoid any calamity that can jeopardize the electoral processes.
This impunity of threatening to kill is a manifestation of Nana Akufo- Addo’s ,the New Patriotic Party( NPP) 2012 flagbearer and self acclaimed democrat and human rights activist ‘All Die be Die’ Mantra.
The debate for the creation of the new 45 constituencies, the Daily Democrat believes should be dominant within the constitutional and legal space, championing by our courts to settle the matter than the open space attacks spearheaded by President Agyekum Diowuo Kufuor .We are saddened about his warning to Dr. Afari-Gyan not go ahead with the creation or he would be held responsible for an electoral violence. This threat from president kufuor to intimidate and put fear in the commissioner created a fertile environment for the launch of the death threats onslaught reinforces the all die be die agenda of the party.

Ghana indeed is in a sad period, with very serious political and social implications for the nation as we approach the December elections. Former president cannot extricate himself from blame if the electoral process is disturb or something bad happens to Dr. Afari-Gyan .
Mr Kufuor’s action clearly undermines the credibility of the constitutional body, The Electoral Commission, The Commissioner, Dr Afari-Gyan and the whole electoral process, the very system that enabled him to become president of the nation on two occasions, 2001 to 2005 and 2006 to 2009.
Is very unfortunate that Former president kufuor descended so low in the political discourse to warn Dr Afari Gyan not to create any additional constituencies for the 2012 general elections.This attack does not help to deepen our young democracy but poses danger and also erodes the confidence in the process.
One cannot eventhough fathom President Kufuor’s motive to attack a credible institution like the EC, one thing is obvious, his opposition to the creation is informed by his party’s philosophy of perpetual display of dislike and jealousy for any good thing initiated for the good people of Ghana by another government when they are not in power. Is still fresh in the minds of Ghanaians how they vehemently opposed the construction of the Akosomdam , Tema Motorway,Tema Township and the introduction Of the value Added Tax (Vat )Just To Mention A Few.
It is important persons that people with influence in society and commands considerable respect be mindful of their utterance so as not to lead the people astray. The attack on Dr. Afari-Gyan is unacceptable and must be condemned. As the matter is a constitutional issue, it is the opinion of the daily Democrat that opponents of the constitutional instrument (CI) seek interpretation at the court and not fighting it in the public court of opinion.
The daily democrat thinks the democratic path chosen by Ghana is bigger and stronger than any individual or a political party.
Even if, in the unlikely event that, these saboteurs succeed to carried out this diabolic act to eliminate the electoral commissioner on the day of elections, the winner would be declared to ensure continuity in governance since the commission is a living entity.
Ghanaians would record the tribal comments made by NPP MP for Assin North,Hon. Kennedy Agyapong,inciting Ashantis against ewes and Gas telling the former to slaughter indigenes for volta and grater Accra regions. Also,a deputy communication director of Nana Addo’s campaign team,Samuel Awuku, told party supporters to use pestle ( womafunu) to attack political opponents since no licence is needed to own it.Obsessed with violence,Jacob Obtetse Lamptey ,NPP national chairman incites NPP Akans to fight for their political birth- right,Karbo,the youth organizer also vomits that Ghana would turn into Rwanda if the party is not declare the winner for December ,2012 elections.