Former President John Mahama has explained that the Chairman of the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo did not say the Chairman of the National Peace Council, Prof Emmanuel Asante, should be beaten up by the NDC but rather that he should be "criticised" for, according to the newly-elected flag bearer of the party, not condemning the Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election violence before demanding an apology from him (Mr Mahama) over his 'match the NPP boot-for-boot' comment after the violence.
"... In the circumstances, I mean, of course, for our Chairman, who had witnessed the violence – the guy whose leg was shot, the bone had shattered and the bone fragments were lying on the ground – anybody who saw it will be traumatised. And, so, if a few days after he [Ofosu-Ampofo] was talking and said: 'we should attack the Peace Council Chairman', he didn’t mean we should go and beat the Peace Council Chairman, he meant that we should criticise him – verbally", Mr Mahama explained at the party's post-flag bearer election thanksgiving service at Perez Chapel International, Accra on Sunday, 3 March 2019.
Mr Mahama said the party had a problem with the Chairman of the National Peace Council for not condemning the violence first before turning his guns on him over his 'boot-for-boot' comment.
On 1 February 2019, Prof Asante called on former President Mahama to apologise to the nation for saying the opposition party will match the governing New Patriotic Party boot-for-boot with violence in the 2020 polls.
While addressing NDC delegates in the Adaklu Constituency of the Volta Region on Thursday, 31 January 2019, Mr Mahama said the NDC would in dishing out violence in the 2020 elections if the government attempts to intimidate and harass NDC supporters with violence.
The former president's comment followed the shooting incident which happened in the course of the by-election when National Security operatives fired at and injured 16 NDC supporters barely an hour into the by-poll around the private residence of the NDC's parliamentary candidate, Kwesi Delali Bbrempong, at La-Bawaleshie. The NDC accused the NPP of being behind the shooting.
Mr Mahama said on that day that: "We are not going to joke in 2020, and I’m sounding a warning to the NPP – we are going to match them boot for boot…"
"I want to sound a caution that NDC has a revolutionary root and when it comes to unleashing violence, no one can beat us to that. It is just that we are mindful of this country’s democracy and that is why we must be the first to respect it. That is why we are acting as a party that is docile and respecting the rule of law. But if we believe that the government cannot protect our people and we believe that the government is using its vigilante groups and illegal forces to intimidate and harass and injure our people, then we may have to advise ourselves."
He added: "We respect the Constitution of this country and the NDC is a democratic party and that's why we abide by the rules of the Constitution. But the same Constitution says that Ghanaians should resist anybody who attempts to subvert the Constitution. When you go rampaging with forces and intimidating people when they should come out and vote, you are subverting the Constitution. And we have a right to resist you."
Reacting to Mr Mahama's warning to the NPP, Rev Asante told Class FM on Friday, 1 February 2019, that the former president ought to be circumspect in his speech.
Rev. Asante said: "If President John Mahama did say what he said, then it is very unfortunate because he has been a head of state, he has been the president of the nation, he is vying for his party to make him the presidential candidate, and if the people of Ghana want him again, he could become the president of this nation. And if it is going to be 'boot-for-boot' for the nation to be on fire, then there is no mercy for anybody. And I think it is unfortunate that in anger, such things should be said.
"I pray and I want to believe that he didn't mean it, he did it out of anger. We have to be very circumspect and under such circumstances watch the things that we say.
"If he said that, I would want to say that President Mahama, with all humility, I will plead with him to apologise to the nation. In making that statement, he has really created fear in the hearts of people and it’s not just President Mahama I will say this to, I want to say this to all our leaders, people we are looking up to in this nation; that under such circumstances one would expect that they will be the voice of wisdom, a voice that will calm tension, a voice that will help Ghanaians to be able to say: Indeed, we have leaders. So, please let's be very careful about these things that we say".
Before his condemnation of Mr Mahama's 'boot-for-boot' comment, Prof Asante, in the same interview with Benjamin Akakpo on the same day, condemned the violence that marred the by-election by saying: "It is the right of citizens to choose who to represent them in parliament, and it is for that reason that in a democratic era, we conduct elections and citizens have the right to go and select the person they want to select and nobody should intimidate them, and nobody should try to resist people from doing what they need to do.
"Therefore, it's very unfortunate and sad and I must condemn with no reservation what happened yesterday as a result of the by-election. I'm told it didn't happen in a polling station but in an area, there were skirmishes that led to the firing of arms and about seven people got injured and some got beaten. Whatever the situation, whoever did that, whatever led to that, it is uncalled for, it is not necessary, it's unfortunate and it must be condemned."
Rev Prof Asante noted that: "It's about time we grow in our political culture, that we begin to know that we've got to live and let others also live and that we do things in a very peaceful manner."
Source: Class News
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Fmr. Prez Mahama, Pls, is everything Ok? I will not bliv u anymore. Are u defending this? Gosh! u hv 2 be taken off this presidential race. God will always expose you. Beware!
Mahama!!1 We also understand English. There is a big difference between INSULT and CRITICIZE.
Mahama sometimes I wonder if you reason at all...your foooöölish and stüpïdity is just amazing!!
Okayyyyyy, so the tape in itself is true. Mahama nononooooooooo. Small common s....
For the first time l am endorsing that you insult the peace council. Mr former per your understanding as communication expect not the incompetent ONE, it means criticize. You think Ghanaians do not read like you NDC people? You have taken your lies to the Church, you do not fear GOD.
Your Excellency, we understand English Language very well, hence, no need for interpretation. The language he used was not CHINEESE. What we need is the TRUTH and not what you think he meant.
So at least the tape wasn't false or doctored. Chaii why do we have a certain caliber of people in NDC and another in NPP. God that is not fair. You listen to NDC and see how cheap and backward Ghana is. Yes it is polictics but trust me there is a VAST difference between NPP and NDC.
jdm is a disgrace to the right thinking people of this country. he has no shame and is very desperate to come and loot this country. he doesn't care killing all Ghanaians just to be president again. #NDCBRINGBACKOURTAKORADIGIRLS
Lets dismiss this man with all the contempt he deserves. And he was once our president, OMG
Mahama! Mahama! Mahama!when you speak I become more convinced of the grave disservice we did to our dear Ghana for making you a president. Per your first statement after the walk you confirmed the authenticity of the tape by saying your offices were bugged. now you want to explain that the statement "for the first time am endorsing the insult of the man of God" to mean criticize. there was no mention of beat so don't try.