We won't shield any 'parrot, eagle or hawk' – Nketia speaks on NDC meeting shooting

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) will not shield any member of the party found to have played a role in the shooting incident that took place during the party’s high-powered meeting in Kumasi on Monday, 18 February 2019, Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketia, General Secretary of the main opposition party, has said.

According to him, the law will take its course and deal with anybody connected to the shooting.

Mr Nketia told Accra-based Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen political talk show on Monday that: “We are not going to shield any criminal in the NDC. Anybody in connection with this crime – whether a parrot or eagle or hawk – the law must take its course.”

A gunman identified by eyewitnesses as a member of vigilante group The Hawks, which is affiliated to the NDC, shot at fellow party members during a regional executive meeting in Kumasi.

The shooter, according to the eyewitnesses, shot the first victim thrice – first in the thigh, then in the belly and on the back as he fell to the ground.

Reports reaching ClassFMonline.com indicate that members of The Hawks pitched camp on one side of the meeting while members of the NDC taskforce also pitched camp on the opposite side.

One of the members of The Hawks began throwing tantrums that something was going to happen, according to the eyewitnesses, and the victim from the task force approached him and said nothing was going to happen.

It resulted in heated verbal exchanges and the member of The Hawks pulled a gun and shot the victim from the NDC task force, the eyewitnesses said.

The victim was rushed to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital where he died.

Another victim shot by the same gunman has sustained injuries but still alive and in critical condition.

The suspect is currently on the run.

Meanwhile, the party has issued a statement claiming gunmen on a motorbike drove by and fired at its supporters and sped off.

The statement, signed by the party’s regional secretary Kwame Zu, said: “Some men on motorbike wielding guns attacked a gathering outside, short indiscriminately and sped off”.

Read the NDC’s full statement below:

NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS – ASHANTI REGIONAL SECRETARIAT

OFFICIAL STATEMENT ON INCIDENT AT THE ASHANTI REGIONAL OFFICE ON MONDAY FEBRUARY 18, 2019

The Ashanti Regional Secretariat of the National Democratic Congress regrets to report that an unfortunate incident occurred at the party’s regional office today, Monday 18th February 2019.

The regrettable incident occurred while a meeting between the National Chairman, The General Secretary, a Deputy General Secretary and the Regional Executive Committee were ongoing. Some men on Motorbike wielding guns attacked a gathering outside, short indiscriminately and sped off.

We regret to announce that one of the two men who were shot has passed on and the other is in a critical condition at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH). The National Chairman, General Secretary and the Regional Executive Committee have visited him at the hospital.

We request the police to carry out a thorough investigation into the matter and bring the perpetrators to book.

Signed,

Kwame Zu (Regional Secretary)

18th February 2019