Police Intimidatio at Asunafo North

I wish to express my concern, as the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Parliamentary Candidate for Asunafo North Constituency, on recent spade of intimidation and harassments on people who express views contrary to that of the ruling NPP and its operatives in the Asunafo North Constituency.

I get even more worried when State Security Personnel who are paid by the Public to protect them allow themselves to be used by the local NPP to perpetrate some of these acts of harassment and intimidations against perceived critics of the NPP Government.

Recently, one Kwaku Effah, a final year philosophy student of the University of Ghana was mercilessly beaten by a Fire Service Personnel who poses as the Security Assistants of Hon. Robert Sarfo Mensah, MP for Asunafo North, for expressing a divergent opinion at a meeting organized for Tertiary Students in the Constituency at Goaso, which the MP Hon. Osarfo Mensah and other NPP activists were present.

Just last Monday, February 4, 2008, the Divisional Police Commander, Chief Superintendent Nana Asare in the company of Police and other Security Operatives stormed a local radio station, Success fm at Goaso ostensibly to arrest one Michael Kwame Asante a level 200 Political Science Student of the University of Ghana who is also a Social Commentator and a Panel Member of the Stations Morning Show for allegedly expressing his candid opinion on issues appearing in two Private Newspapers during a newspaper review programme.

The 21st -22nd Edition of the Insight Newspaper carried a banner headline”FRANCIS POKU-ISRAELI CONNECTION TO HIS DISMISSAL which linked the Hon. Ministers dismissal to an alleged Training Programme the later arranged for Staff of his outfit without the consent of President Kuffour. The other Newspaper in question was the 6th – 12th issue of the Weekly Standard which also carried “FAILED COUP ATTEMPT IN LACOTE DE VOIRE- WHAT ROLE DID PRESIDENT KUFFOUR PLAY?

Ironically, the two Newspapers whose contents were under review that day, were published, circulated and reviewed in Accra, the seat of Government where the President and the Security Capos reside, but to date none of the Editors or Publishers of the two Newspapers have been arrested or invited.

So, whose interest is the Police, the BNI and the Fire Officers serving in the Asunafo North?

I wish to state that this behavior of the police and other security personnel in the area will not foster peace and unity as we enter the heat of this Election Year. I want to remind the Police of their Constitutional Mandate to provide protection for all at all times, and must therefore not allow themselves to be used by any political party as agents for harassment.

Let me also add that the NDC as a peace loving and Democratic party shall not allow itself to be intimidated by any person or organisation and will fiercely resist all such unlawful attempts this Election Year.

I am hereby advising the security operatives, especially the Police in Asunafo North In their best interest and that of Ghana to see all, irrespective of Party affiliation, as true citizens and allies who deserve equal treatment, if we are to avert any confrontation this Election year..

Mohammed Kwaku Doku (Former DCE Asunafo District and NDC Parliamentary Candidate for Asunafo North Constituency)