The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Parliamentary Candidate for the Odododiodio Constituency, Edward Patrick Nii Lante Bannerman, has condemned alleged attacks on his party’s supporters over the weekend by members of the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Addressing journalists on Monday, October 26, Mr Bannerman explained that the attacks started at an NPP base known as Blue Gate, which is located on the High Street, Accra.
“During the NDC’s organized walk, some of their supporters besieged the Blue Gate base without any provocation whatsoever. They started this act of vandalism by first pelting the base with stones and bottles and also at our members who were there.
“They went further to vandalize the entire place and in the act, destroyed a 75 and 40-inch television sets mounted on the walls, smashed electric bulbs, destroyed ceiling fans and threw a refrigerator from the top floor of the one-storey building.
“It is interesting to note that earlier, popular boxer Braimah Kamoko aka Bukom Banku, a known NDC fanatic who was part of the walk had climbed up the building to exchange pleasantries with some members of our party, the NPP and also admonished the on-looking NDC members to emulate his gesture.
“Interestingly, however, that advice seem to have fallen on deaf ears as some members of the NDC decided to do otherwise by throwing bottles and stones,” he said.
Below is his full address:
NPP CONDEMNS UNWARRANTED ACT OF VANDALISM ON NPP SUPPORTERS, BASES AND OFFICE BY NDC HOODLUMS
Press Statement
Good morning ladies and gentlemen of the press.
My name is Edward Patrick Nii Lante Bannerman, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Parliamentary Candidate for the Odododiodoo constituency.
I’m sure by now most, if not all of you have heard of the unprovoked attacks on some of our members, the vandalisation of my private office and one of our bases (Blue Gate) yesterday.
I refer to the attack as unprovoked because it was done without justification by members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the constituency.
Facts of the matter:
The attacks started at an NPP base known as Blue Gate which is located on the High Street, Accra. During the NDC’s organized walk, some of their supporters besieged the Blue Gate base without any provocation whatsoever. They started this act of vandalism by first pelting the base with stones and bottles and also at our members who were there. They went further to vandalize the entire place and in the act, destroyed a 75 and 40inch television sets mounted on the walls, smashed electric bulbs, destroyed ceiling fans and threw a refrigerator from the top floor of the one-storey building.
It is interesting to note that earlier, popular boxer, Braimah Kamoko aka Bukom Banku, a known NDC fanatic who was part of the walk had climbed up the building to exchange pleasantries with some members of our party, the NPP and also admonished the on-looking NDC members to emulate his gesture.
Interestingly however, that advise, seem to have fallen on deaf ears as some members of the NDC decided to do otherwise by throwing bottles and stones.
Not satisfied with the damage done and as has been the stock in trade of the NDC, these hoodlums also besieged my Political office at James Town, Ngleshie, opposite the Police station to continue their brutalities and criminal acts, destroying some glass windows in the process.
We are however not the least surprised by these acts of violence, considering the fact that in 2016, after a successful campaign launch at the famous Bukom Square, this same MP, led his thugs to go on a vandalisation spree in the constituency.
On the back of yet another successful walk in honour of the memory of NPP Odododiodioo Youth Organiser, the late William Walters Nii Ofei Bruce Tagoe aka Ras on Saturday, the MP and his boys came running riot again without any provocation.
It therefore goes without saying that these happenings in the constituency are explicitly orchestrated by the incumbent Member of Parliament (MP) whose persona and character depicts violence.
This was the same person who as the NDC Parliamentary Candidate in 2004 was cited for electoral fraud and violence and injuncted from contesting that year’s election. The constituency from then on experienced peaceful electioneering campaigns and elections until he resurfaced in 2012 to contest the NDC primaries which again was characterised by violence he masterminded.
The lead up to that year’s election and the events before, during and after the 2016 elections is still fresh on the minds of people. Madam Ursula Owusu Ekuful, Abu Jinapor, the late Jake Obestebi-Lamptey and my good self have been victims of his thuggery.
Ladies and gentlemen of the press, yesterday’s violent and unprovoked attacks goes to confirm that the MP has not departed from his old ways.
I take this opportunity to condemn in no uncertain terms, the unwarranted attacks on our members, other innocent citizens, our bases and my private office in the Odododiodioo Constituency.
I hereby call on the Police to as a matter of urgency, arrest these NDC thugs and let the law take its due course to serve as a deterrent to their likes, failing which, our people will be left with no other option than to defend themselves.
For now, I can only urge my people to remain calm even in the face of these extreme provocations.
I also call on the Ga Traditional Council, Niimei, Naamei, the Clergy, Imams and all well-meaning Ghanaians to call the violent MP and his hoodlums to order before things get out of hand.
We all owe it a duty to the people of Odododiodioo and Ghana by extension, to jealously protect and safeguard the peace and stability that we continue to enjoy before, during and after the 2020 general elections.
Thank you and God bless us all.
Signed.
Edward Patrick Nii Lante Bannerman, NPP Parliamentary Candidate Odododiodioo
By Laud Nartey|3news.com|Ghana