NPP planning demo to mar NDC Campaign launch - Group

A youth group calling itself Young Cadres and associated with the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) are alleging that some top officials of the opposition New Patriotic (NPP) are planning on mobilising some groups in the Central Region to demonstrate against the President and the NDC, and to cause some disturbance during the party’s programme this weekend.

General Secretary of the group, Bright Botchway in an interview with Kwabena Agyapong, host of Eboboba on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM said, they've gathered intelligence on their allegation.

They have therefore called on the security agencies to be alert and ensure that they prevent any violence in the upcoming official campaign launch of President John Dramani Mahama at the Cape Coast Stadium.

The group in a statement released earlier said, "Some notable groups allegedly being mobilised by the NPP include some fisher folks and market women who will engage in hooting at the President and demonstrating against the NDC, similar to what they did during the funeral of the late Bantamahene in Kumasi, and again during the “Accounting to the People Tour” in Ejisu under the guidance of the so-called Chairman Wontumi."

He added that the achievements of the NDC had intoxicated the opposition NPP and due to that, they are planning to demonstrate against the NDC and its presidential candidate, John Dramani Mahama.

The campaign launch of the NDC is on the theme: "Changing Lives, Transforming Ghana".

The NDC believes that President Mahama is their best candidate and come December 7, 2016, he will maintain his seat as President of the Republic of Ghana.

President Mahama, they maintained, will clinch victory by 57 percent in the first round. According to the NDC, the achievements of President Mahama is unprecedented and remarkable.

Below is the statement

Towards NDC Campaign Launch, Security Services Must be Vigilant – Young Cadres

Young Cadres, a youth activist group within the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) is calling on the security agencies in the country to be extra vigilant towards the launching of the NDC’s campaign in Cape Coast coming Sunday. The call stems from intelligence reports picked up by the group which suggest that some elements within the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) are planning on mobilising some groups in the Central Region to demonstrate against the President and the NDC and to cause some disturbances during the party’s programmes this weekend.

Although it is unclear as to why the opposition will instigate and support such a move by its raucous elements, there are indications that the said plans have the full blessings of some national executives of the party. Some notable groups allegedly being mobilized by the NPP include some fisher folks and market women who will engage in hooting at the President and demonstrating against the NDC, similar to what they did during the funeral of the late Batamahene in Kumasi and again during the “Accounting to the People Tour” in Ejisu under the guidance of the so-called Chairman Wontumi.

Whilst the people of Central Region have so much to celebrate and be thankful for, the NPP has realized that if it fails to incite the people of the region against the President and his government, they will stand no chance of obtaining even 20% of votes from the region in the upcoming polls. Their plan is thus to cause an artificial discontent among the people of the region in order to paint a picture of hardship and a lack of attention from the government.

It is however instructive to note that, for a gathering of this magnitude among NDC folks, not all members could be contained and restrained when faced with demonstrations. We, the leadership of Young Cadres Association will thus entreat the security agencies to be alert and be proactive to nip any threat that the NPP elements pose to the success of the campaign launch in the bud.

Whilst entreating the security agencies to be watchful, we also take this opportunity to call on Nana Akufo Addo to call his party supporters to order. It is not the fault of President Mahama or the NDC that Nana Akufo Addo and his NPP have no campaign message going into the December polls and thus resorting to needless demonstrations and intimidations against their opponents. If the NPP believes in the game of fair play they should get to the grounds and work instead of lurking in the dark and fomenting trouble.

Signed:

Bright Botchway

General Secretary (Young Cadres Association)

0249-999145

Mubarak Watara

PRO (Young Cadres Association)

0244-753143

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Inspector General of Police

National Security Coordinator

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