Days of impunity re-visited

The affable General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Ohene Ntow, was reportedly arrested yesterday by the Police in connection with the massacre at the Abgobloshie Market last Tuesday which left three persons dead and others seriously injured. According to the police, the NPP scribe was invited because his name had been mentioned in connection with the Agbogbloshie incident, where four people, linked to the NPP, were butchered to their untimely death in broad daylight.

Last week, the Minority in Parliament came up with names of persons whom they believed were connected to the killings of the three men, yet no effort has been made by the security agencies to effect arrest of any of these suspects in connection with the murders that occurred in broad daylight and in the presence of witnesses. The man is now a suspect simply because the NPPians who went to file a report with the police mentioned the name of their party secretary. The police recently assaulted an NPP activist who joined a demonstration against the arrest of a former Minister, only for the victim to die the day after.

Our country is becoming an interesting place to live by the day. Events in Ghana make one to wonder what exactly is happening in this beautiful country of ours. With such developments, one begins to wonder whether the NDC is now using the security agencies to intimidate NPP leaders and sympathises of the party. Ghanaians voted for change and change they’ve got. A change that has taken the country back to the dark days – the PNDC days - the days the culture of impunity was part and parcel of governance, a change full of intimidation and harassment, a change that has no respect for the rule of law and a change that does not have room for good governance. Change they asked for and change they’ve got. The “New NDC” that was much touted during last years electioneering campaign by the then opposition NDC, was, with all indications, meant to throw dust into the eyes of the good people of Ghana. NDC cannot deviate from its roots. This is a party that was borne out of violence, intimidation lies and deceit. Indeed a leopard cannot change its spots, no matter how much it tries.

Just recently a group known as the Bawku Youth Development Association accused the Presidential Spokesperson; Mr. Mahama Ayariga of using his position in government to instigate disturbances in the Bawku municipality. According to the group, Mr. Ayariga had virtually deserted his post as the Presidential Spokesperson and was seeing busy campaigning in the area when the Electoral Commission has not even declared any by-election in the Municipally. Ayariga`s actions received the attention of lawyer John Ndebugre who then urged the President to call his spokesman to order fearing his presence in Bawku was causing panic amongst the populace. A day after Mr. Ndebugre`s plea, two residents were killed. Did the police invite the man for interrogation? No; not in Atta Mills` Ghana where impunity reigns supreme.

Consistently, Mr. Mills-led NDC government is turning out to be the least respecter of human rights. Roughly a week ago, it was reported on air that the Deputy Minister for Brong Ahafo region, Mr. Eric Opoku, was shielding a suspected killer of an evangelist and NPP sympathizer at Sankore. The Minister strongly denied the allegation on Peace FM, claiming that he does not have any association whatsoever with the suspect, Mr. Kwasi Adu. As was expected, the police took no action. Perhaps they (the police) were waiting for “instructions from above”. Remember the Akwatia re-run? It could be recalled that the self-acclaimed “Prince of Peace” Atta Mills, who as a candidate vehemently criticized the then President John Kufuor for not acting on newspaper reports, also turned deaf ears to all the numerous allegations leveled against his deputy minister.

A few days after the allegation on radio, the suspected killer was allegedly found hidden beneath the bed of the “Honourable” Deputy Minister. The arrest of Kwasi Adu in the bedroom of the deputy minister exposes Mr. Opoku as an endemic liar and a person of ill repute. President Mills cannot fail to act this time around with all this cases of impunity growing. This man should be charged with perverting the course of Justice and harboring a criminal and also obstruction of justice. If Atta Mills does not act swiftly and decisively to bring an early end to this impasse, then he the President, should be impeached by parliament for allowing a criminal to serve in his government. Ghana is renowned for its peaceful atmosphere; therefore, the country cannot support criminals in any shape or form. We cannot forget what happened in Akwatia so soon. Mills promised the people a better Ghana but that, it appears, was not to be! Many Ghanaians feel under siege in their own country and the President must act now before the situation gets out of control.

Desmond Frimpong, NPP Norway