I Am And Still Remain An Agent Of Peace - Nana Akufo Addo

Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has indicted the ruling National Democratic Congress for politically interfering in the discharge of duties of the security services so much so that some of the personnel feel intimidated. The worrying part, according to the NPP flagbearer, is the seeming helplessness or refusal by the security services to perform their duties when confronted by violence on the part of members of the ruling party and cited numerous incidence to buttress his point. �A Cabinet minister of the Republic, Hon. Collins Dauda, has employed the use of thugs under the command of his blood brother, Abdullai Naba, to harass, intimidate and physically interfere with the campaign of the NPP in the Asutifi South constituency. The former NPP MP and former Ambassador to Cuba, Mrs Cecilia Amoah and the Constituency Chairman and Organiser of the NPP were set upon and eight brand new bicycles in their vehicle were destroyed beyond repair. In spite of written statements and reports to the Goaso police and the provision of evidence, no arrests have been made till date�The three by-elections that have been conducted under this NDC government have been characterized by similar brutality. Akwatia, Chereponi, Atiwa have entered our political folklore for all the wrong reasons�During the voter registration exercise, Odododiodo became a byword for impunity and the flagrant display of violence on the streets of the capital�.Ladies and gentlemen, this cannot be good for the health of our democracy,� he said. Outlining his plans for the security sector in Koforidua, Nana Addo accused the Mills-Mahama administration of eroding away the significant gains the country has made in depoliticising state security agencies by replacing it with an aggressive politicisation agenda. �Indeed as soon as the NDC assumed office in January 2009, the training of two batches of Armed Forces recruits selected during the latter part of the NPP administration was cancelled and the nation was told loudly that these young people who were recruited under a meticulously devised regiment were NPP foot soldiers�.in the process about 900 young men and women who could have excelled in carrying out their military duties were denied in the opportunity to serve in their countries Armed Forces," he claimed. Debunking allegations levelled against him by his political opponents that he is anti military, the NPP leader who described himself as an agent of peace, said he has �no plans to turn our soldiers into farmers nor do i intend to touch the single spine arrangements that were initiated by the NPP government of John Agyekum Kufuor to fund the free Senior High School program... So our men in uniform should rest in peace and assured." �If, by the Grace of God, I am elected President on December 7th, my preoccupation would be the development of well-trained, well-resourced, professional security agencies that carry out their constitutionally mandated responsibilities competently and efficiently,� Nana Addo vowed. Below is a copy of his speech