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Diasporia News of Saturday, 28 April 2012

Source: Kwaku Anane-Gyinde

NPP-Germany calls off Demonstration

and Warns President Mills

The Germany Branch of the New Patriotic Party [NPP] has cancelled the planned demonstration that was scheduled to take place at the premises of the Ghana Embassy in Berlin this coming weekend.

The Party, in conjunction with other Ghanaian Groups and human rights organisations called for the demonstration following the unlawful arrest, detention and alle ged torture of Honourable Kennedy Ohene Agyapong on Wednesday April 18 2012.

A statement issued by Mr Kwaku Appiah, General Secretary, NPP-Germany explained that the decision to suspend the mass protest was taken in view of the fact that the Honourable Member had been granted bail as prescribed by law. He was however quick to add that the demonstration still remains an option saying’ We have only suspended it and we will move into action as and when the need arises’. The General Secretary warned the Mills-Mahama administration that Ghanaians would not countenance a situation where political persecution, arbitrary arrest and detention and the blatant abuse of power are used as political weapons against government critics and opponents and cautioned the President that recent events in other parts of the world should remind him that no force on earth can stand against the will of a determined people.

Mr Appiah was particularly critical about the deliberate acts of violence being perpetrated against women by the NDC government and expressed regret that while all civilised societies are encouraging and supporting women’s participation in all aspects of national life the government of President Mills has made a conscious decision to harass, intimidate and reduce Ghanaian women into second class citizens.’ Our women are being reduced to second class citizens by denying them their right to freely and actively participate in the political process of our country’ he added.

He challenged the Mills-Mahama administration to arrest and prosecute the culprits who carried out the brutal attacks on Ms Gifty Lawson, a Photo Journalist and Ms Ursula Owusu, the NPP Parliamentary Candidate for Ablekuma South and said failure to do so is a confirmation of government complicity in these attacks.

According to him, NPP-Germany is laising with various women groups across the European Union with the view to bringing the plight of the Ghanaian woman (under the NDC government) to the attention of the International Community. He thanked the various human rights organisations in Germany for their prompt response and support and gave the assurance that an Akuffo-Addo led government will uphold the rule of law and protect the rights of all Ghanaians irrespective of gender, religion or political affiliation.

Kwaku Anane-Gyinde Germany