General News of Tuesday, 26 February 2013

Source: Abdul Karim Naatogmah

Don't thwart freedom of speech - NPP national Chairman

Mr. Jake Otanka Obetsebi Lamptey has condemned what he described as attempts to frustrate freedom of speech in Ghana.

He said that nobody has the right to prevent others from expressing their views on matters of national concern irrespective of their background.

Mr. Obetsebi Lamptey was addressing the media at the party’s headquarters in Accra where he launched “The NPP Peter Mensah Fund” to support the party’s youth activists.

Twenty seven year old Peter Mensah got one of his eyes damaged as a result of acid poured on him by unknown suspects in the Techiman North constituency.

Mr. Obetsebi admonished leadership of all the political parties to wage war against attacks on panelist at radio stations.

According to the NPP national Chairman, such acts will undermine the nation’s democratic credentials.

He said the party needed enough money to complement the NPP's branch in Germany pledge to take care of Peter Mensah’s external Medicare.

Peter Mensah narrated his ordeal saying, “On the 21st of October, the Ebenezer Methodist Church youth organized a peace programme dubbed, “Ensuring peaceful election the role of the Parliamentary candidate.”

“On that particular day, our schedule was so tight that my Parliamentary candidate, Professor Emeyaw Ekumfi asked me to represent him; after the programme when I was leaving the place, I saw some people on a motorbike and so I slowed down for them to overtake me and when they got closer they splashed acid on me and one of my eyes as I am speaking to you is gone,” he added.