Flagbearer hopeful of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, has strongly condemned the violence that disrupted the Ablekuma North rerun, describing the assaults on former MP Mavis Hawa Koomson and an EIB Network journalist as “deeply regrettable” and a threat to Ghana’s democracy.
In a statement issued, Dr. Adutwum stated that the attacks undermine the very values that uphold Ghana’s democratic processes and called for urgent action to prevent the recurrence of such incidents.
“This recurring cycle of electoral violence must come to an end and be consigned to the dark days of our past,” he stated.
“As a country committed to democratic governance, we must prioritise the peace and stability of our nation above all other partisan and self-interests.”
Dr. Adutwum stated that the political maturity Ghana has gained over the years must not be undone by “acts of political intolerance, aggression, and violence.”
He noted that the recent electoral victory of President John Mahama should be a reminder to all political actors that democracy thrives not through violence, but through the ballot.
“The overwhelming political victory that Ghanaians bestowed on President Mahama should be a testament that, as a people, we should not use electoral violence to settle past political scores,” he said.
Calling for unity and accountability, the former Education Minister-turned-presidential hopeful urged the Interior Minister to launch a swift and thorough investigation to identify and prosecute the perpetrators of the violence.
“Accountability is critical if we are to restore public confidence and deter future acts of electoral violence,” he stressed.
He called on all Ghanaians to uphold peace, the rule of law, and the democratic principles that bind the nation together.