The General Secretary of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) says the tendency for the security services to look away whilst political actors commit crimes must cease.
The police in Ghana and elsewhere in the West African sub-region, Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketia said, tend to “go slow when things happen and they have to do with politics.”
He was discussing the assassination of the Upper East Regional Chairman of the opposition New Patriotic Party.
Alhaji Adams Mahama had acid poured on him by two assailants Wednesday and was confirmed dead Thursday morning at the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital.
The motive for the murder is yet to be ascertained but only last week, there was a violent confrontation in the Upper East Region which resulted in the scuttling of a planned meeting between the party chair and general secretary and other regional executives of the party.
Adams Mahama had indicated he was not aware of the planned meeting and wondered why the two national executives will organise a party meeting in his region, with his executives and would not inform him about it.
In the mist of the controversy, Paul Afoko and Kwabena Agyapong were said to have lodged an assault complaint with the Upper East police but also indicated that Adams Mahama was well aware of the meeting.
The controversy caused a bit of a stir in the party until Wednesday night’s acid attack on Adams Mahama.
One of the two suspects, Gregory Afoko, who is said to be brother to Paul Afoko is in police grips.
The news about the death of the party chairman has left many shocked and has also led to some attacks especially in the Upper East Region.
The Upper East Vice Chair of the party was said to have been attacked and his vehicle vandalised by angry youth.
Commenting on the development on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show Mr. Asiedu Nketia said whilst the security services must be more proactive, there is an even bigger responsibility on the political leaders.
He said the interferences with the work of the police by political, religious and traditional leaders and the tendency to sympathise with accused persons conspire to frustrate the security services and embolden criminals.
That practice must stop, he added.
He said the leadership of the opposition party must take “control of the party and instill discipline to quell this type of seeming lawlessness that is growing within the party.”
He catalogued incidents he said had happened in the party previously which, according to him, were not taken seriously by the party’s leaders.
He cited the shootings by unknown assailants into a group of people in Tamale whilst the party was holding its delegates’ conference there, the replacement of security guards at the party’s headquarters and the attempt by some youth to scuttle a press conference called by the party Chairman and General Secretary.
He asked the NPP to refrain from speculative comments as that could prejudice the case and make work of the police difficult.
