By William Yaw Owusu
Monday February 22, 2010
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) branch in the United Kingdom and Ireland has condemned the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government for restricting freedom of speech.
“We condemn the arrest and imprisonment of Nana Darkwa and arrest of George Best, NPP supporters who were only exercising their basic human rights to free speech under our constitution”.
In a press statement issued in London and signed by Nana Yaw Sarpong, Communications Officer of NPP UK/Ireland said “as much as we sympathize with former President Rawlings and his family’s loss of property through fire last Sunday, everyone in Ghana has a right to express different opinions and a right to express a view.”
The statement said “one does not have to agree with Darkwa and Best views. After all Mrs. Zita Okaikoi did say there may be a hand behind, Ex- President Kufuor said actions of saboteurs could not be ruled out and should be investigated. Are these not expression of opinion?”
“Have we not had some of our leaders being called ‘Ataa Ayi’, ‘cocaine addicts’, by NDC members like Fiifi Kwetey, Koku Anyidoho, Ama Benyiwa Doe and others in the past”?
The group asked the police and the judicial authorities to “use discretion in the exercise of their duties and we are sad that Rose Bio Atinga, Greater Accra Regional Police Commander is fast turning the police into an armed wing of the NDC arresting political opponents at will.”
The group also had a word for the judge who ordered the imprisonment of Darkwa saying “the Circuit Court Judge should bow down his head in shame and we call on the Chief Justice to investigate and throw out this judge and others like this whose bizarre conduct make our laws a laughing stock.”
The release further expressed concern about what it describes as “the culture of silence rising in the country, the creeping of intolerance of opposing views, and the harassment of political opponents by the NDC government.”
“The recent attacks at Adom FM, beating of Lawyer John Owusu Afriyie (Sir John) by Yamoah Ponkoh at a radio station in Kumasi, the beating of Dr. Asemfoforo, an NDC serial caller at the NDC headquarters for criticizing Ex-President Rawlings, all point to a government which is unable to meet the demands of our people, is trying to suppress dissenting views, restrict expression of diverse opinions, suffocate debate and intimidate media houses, journalists and opinion leaders.”
The group said that they were surprised that “our clergy and journalists are silent when these abuses take place. The return of Criminal Libel Law through the back door we say.”
They said the immoral action and abuse of state machinery has no place in the current democratic dispensation.
Also see : www.dailyguideghana.com
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