Attack on Adams Mahama is an attack on NPP – Bawumia

The Vice Presidential Candidate of the opposition New Patriotic Party, Dr. Mahamoud Bawumia, says the acid-attack on the party's Upper East Regional Chairman that led to his shocking death Thursday morning, is an ''attack on the NPP''.

Dr. Bawumia says the incident is criminal and thus asked party supporters to avoid speculations and allow the police to do a thorough investigation into it.

Dr. Bawumia, before flying to Bolgatanga on Thursday to commiserate with the family, asked party supporters to remain calm as he addressed a crowd of supporters at his Kanda residence in Accra, flanked by some leading NPP supporters including Professor Mike Oquaye and Nii Adjiri Blankson, a former Accra Mayor.

Dr. Bawumia says he was shocked when the news reached him.

"The incident I am told took place around 11:00pm, but I heard it around 1:00am. It was with shock and I haven't slept since because we wanted to find out what was really going on. And so we followed the whole process through to this morning and it was clear we needed to evacuate him to Accra for attention. All the arrangements were made and it was just at the time when the Helicopter was ready to come to Bolga, that we heard the sad news that he had died. We see this as a criminal act that needs investigation and so we are not going to be in the realm of speculation. The police are very capable and we trust that they will do a very perfect investigation of the matter and let the court take its course".

Dr. Bawumia asked party supporters to commiserate with the family, pray for them and avoid reaching hasty conclusions.

"For us, we are in mourning. Adams is a regional chairman of our party so the attack on him is really an attack on the party and so we are standing in solidarity. We will commiserate with his family and see to it that he is given a fitting burial and funeral. As you are all aware, the Flagbearer is on assignment abroad but has cut his visit short so we should expect him back tomorrow (Friday). So we want all our supporters to be calm".

"This is not a period for reaching hasty conclusions. Lets allow the law to take its course as well as the investigations. What Adams Mahama needs from us are prayers; we need to pray for his wife and children and the extended family because they are going through a lot that we cannot imagine. A healthy man they saw in the morning yesterday(Wednesday), and in the night he was in deep pain and by this morning (Thursday) he was gone. They are going through a lot so we pray for them and assure them of our support as a party. And God is the one who we all seek solace from in events like this. Its only God that gives, and he also takes away. I thank all of you for coming here as a sign of respect for Adams Mahama. May Allah have mercy on his soul" he said.

Police have been deployed to the party’s headquarters in Accra to forestall any attack by angry party followers. Also in the Upper East Region, police and military personnel have been placed at vantage points to maintain law and order. The party’s secretary in the Upper East Region, has in a public address asked party supporters to remain calm whiles the police investigates the matter.

Meanwhile the police homicide unit from Accra, have been deployed to the Upper East Region to investigate the matter as one suspect, Gregory Afoko, a brother to the National NPP Chairman, Paul Afoko, is in the grips of the police for his alleged role in the acid-attack.

The deceased is to be buried on Friday May 22, in line with Islamic tradition.