European Union condemns Nima clash

The European Union (EU) has condemned clashes between supporters of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the main opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) in front of the Nima residence of flag bearer Nana Akufo-Addo on Sunday.

The EU has urged party leaders to make a public commitment to ensure peace in the December polls.

According to head of the EU delegation to Ghana, William Hanna, the seeming tension in the country is a source of great worry to the country's international partners and, thus, called on the police to discharge their duties without fear or favour.

“I’m speaking on behalf of my colleagues the ambassadors of the European Union member states present here in Ghana that we are concerned by the violent clashes between rival groups of supporters that took place earlier this week in Accra. Violence has no place in the electoral process. We look to the forces of order to do their job impartially and to prevent violence where ever it comes from and arrest those responsible,” Mr Hanna said at the launch of the National Media Commission's media monitoring report on how the media is covering the 2016 elections.

“We call on party leadership in Ghana to publicly state that violence by their party supporters is unacceptable. These include provocation, intimidation or incitement including hate speech. We expect party leaders to make a public commitment to peace just as they did together four years ago in Kumasi,” he added.

The EU’s disapproval follows similar threats by the United States of America and the United Kingdom to deny or revoke visas of politicians who may incite violence in the West African country before, during or after the polls.