The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has vow to “fiercely resist” any further unlawful seizures of assets it claims rightfully belong to its executives and members.
Government has set up a taskforce to spearhead the retrieval of state properties allegedly in the possession of individuals who served in the previous administration.
The Chief of Staff, Frema Osei Opare, on Friday issued a statement announcing the setting up of the task force.
The statement partly read "Persons with state properties unlawfully in their possession should endeavour to contact the task force and make arrangements to surrender same with immediate effect".
Recently, armed military officials stormed the residence of NDC National Organiser Kofi Adams and seized five vehicles which were later returned and was followed by an apology from the National Security Minister Albert Kan-Dapaah.
The NDC is, however, in a defiant mood.
The party, in a strongly worded counter statement signed by the General Secretary of the NDC Johnson Asiedu Nketia described the action by the government as an "implausible cover-up for the state sponsored and violation of the human rights of innocent Ghanaians over the last four weeks."
"The gung-ho approach adopted by the NPP and President Akufo-Addo betrays their siege mentality which is completely incompatible with democratic practice. The NDC demands an immediate cessation of the violent attacks on its members and the seizure of their properties.
To the best of our knowledge, members of the immediate past administration have complied with the provisions of the Presidential Transition Act in so far as it relates to the handing over of state assets. That said, if the NPP government has genuine reason to believe that any assets are outstanding and yet to be returned, let them provide evidence of same and use lawful means for their retrieval," he further added.
He strongly held the view that it cannot be the case that officials of previous government are still holding on to public assets and warned that "any further attacks" on its members "will be fiercely resisted".
"We would however not tolerate any violation of the rights of our members under the guise of retrieving phantom state assets. Any further attacks on officials and members of the NDC will be fiercely resisted."
Below is the full statement:
PRESS STATEMENT
LAWLESS SEIZURE OF PRIVATE PROPERTIES BY NPP THUGS & AGENTS OF THE AKUFO-ADDO GOV'T
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has taken note of a statement issued by the Akufo-Addo government in which it announced that a ‘task force’ has been set up to retrieve ‘state properties’ allegedly in the possession of former government officials.
This can only be an implausible cover-up for the state-sponsored thuggery and violation of the human rights of innocent Ghanaians over the last four (4) weeks.
Let it be known to government that the quest to justify the criminal activities of its party hoodlums who have gone about wreaking havoc on innocent citizens, destroying government properties, beating up hardworking civil and public servants and attempting to seize properties of former government officials and leading functionaries of the NDC, can destabilize the peace and stability of our beloved country, Ghana.
The activities of these NPP hoodlums operating under the name ‘invisible Forces’ with tacit approval from elements within the Ghana Armed Forces and the Ghana Police Service, have gone on for several weeks without any noticeable effort by government to take action against them.
Instead of condemnation and firm action to end this spate of lawlessness, these criminal elements, loyal to President Akufo-Addo, have received approbation from leading figures within the NPP who have sought to justify their conduct amidst threats to seize more private properties.
The indiscriminate seizures of lawfully-acquired private property came to a head when unseen powerful hands at the seat of government, commandeered uniformed personnel of the Ghana Armed Forces to team up with the violent INVISIBLE FORCES to seize and take away vehicles from the residence of the National Organiser of the NDC, Mr. Kofi Adams.
Before then, campaign vehicles belonging to the NDC had been unlawfully taken away from across the country. Some officials of the immediate past government also had their private vehicles forcibly taken away by the same marauding gang.
Furthermore, innocent citizens of Ghana who find themselves working in government offices and installations have come under violent attacks nationwide from these NPP thugs, while supporters of the NDC have been violently assaulted, causing serious injuries in some cases.
In other instances, employees of some security agencies and ordinary citizens have been evicted from their official accommodation by members of the notorious INVISIBLE FORCES.
A disturbing feature of these raids is that they are soon followed by profuse apologies from National Security Minister, Albert Kan Dapaah, with promises and assurance to avert a recurrence, only for the same attacks to be replicated.
This state of affairs reveals a worrying breakdown of the chain of command of the nation’s security agencies and the running of a vigilante security system parallel to what is duly established by law. The attempt therefore by the Akufo-Addo government to issue a post-facto rationalisation of this disgraceful behaviour through the setting up of a supposed task force must be roundly condemned.
If government meant well and was willing to act in good faith, lawful procedure would have been used to secure any state asset deemed to be in the hands of unauthorized persons.
Conventional wisdom would dictate that proper inventory would be taken of all government assets whereupon any missing assets would be traced to any person keeping same. This is especially so, as each and every government asset, movable and immovable, as captured in the handing over notes were handed over to the NPP representatives of the Joint Transition Team.
The gung-ho approach adopted by the NPP and President Akufo-Addo betrays their siege mentality which is completely incompatible with democratic practice. The NDC demands an immediate cessation of the violent attacks on its members and the seizure of their properties.
To the best of our knowledge, members of the immediate past administration have complied with the provisions of the Presidential Transition Act in so far as it relates to the handing over of state assets. That said, if the NPP government has genuine reason to believe that any assets are outstanding and yet to be returned, let them provide evidence of same and use lawful means for their retrieval.
To enhance the credibility of the process we call on government to publish the said assets which they deem missing.
We wish to make it clear that we stand prepared to cooperate with government in any effort to reconcile national assets and secure them. We would however not tolerate any violation of the rights of our members under the guise of retrieving phantom state assets.
Any further attacks on officials and members of the NDC will be fiercely resisted.
MR. JOHNSON ASIEDU NKETIA
GENERAL SECRETARY
Saturday, February 04, 2017.
Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana
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They've messed up the economy, stolen our money and cars and they are threatening to resist what? Let them resist and we will see who is in charge. Perhaps they still think they are in power. Every peswa that you looted will be extracted from you ***barred word***! Fire burn you all, especially the FORD BRIBE TAKER. All of a sudden, a teacher like Kofi Adams can afford to buy and register 3 pickups and 2 Land Cruisers within a year. Daylight robbery led by John Mahama. Thunder fore all of you guys.
ALL DIE BE DIE, THEY WANTED WHITE SUPREMACY SO THEY VOTED FOR TRUMP, SO LEAVE NPP ALONE TO DO WHAT THEY VOTED FOR.
Is that why you enrolled for 'Military Training'. Perhaps that 'course' that programme 'political' Generals must be re- examined.
This man called mosquito is funny He has forget that ndc trouble makers will do the same if they are in power.He is talking like Ghana belongs to him and the ndc.Trust me ndc will never come to power any more.Simple question,return government property has turn to something else.these will never happen to any civilized country.
Today like yesterday Asiedu Nketia is behaving like JJ Rawlings fully intoxicated by past glories ; the full does not know that the power of the NDC is finished because NDC shall never come to power again !!!!!!!; the reality of todays position has still not dawned on this village RAT yet like his past master JJ Rawlings ; he thinks the past is still the present when they used the NDC 'Varanda boy' or foot soldiers to do all the dirty work for them ; TIME HAS PAST OOOOO!!!!: today NDC foot soldiers have all learnt a bitter lesson ; NEVER TRUST THESE GUYS INCLUDING ASIEDU NKEIA : KOFI ADAMS : KOKU ETC : THEY ARE FILTY RICHJ THIFFS ; they collect the money take the cars; build houses and expect the fullish foot soldiers to go on the street and fight forthem; Massa -NO MORE !!!!!!!!!OOOOOOO; JJ Rawlings used the same tactics to full Ghanaians ; stole our monies and a building and today lives confortably with his family whilst those foot soldiers do not even have a place to live ; TODAY THE WRITING IS ON THE WALL : IF ANY NDC OFFICIAL INCLUDING ASIEDU NKETIA AND OTHERS HAVE STOLEN ANY GOVERNMENT PROPERTY THEY BETTER RETURN IT BACK OTHERWISE THEY WILL BE STOPPED IN TRAFFIC AND THE CARS TAKEN AWAY FROM THEM IN PUBLIC AND THERE IS NOTHING ANY FOOTSOLDIER CAN DO ; BECAUSE FOOTSOLDIERS ARE NO FULLS : WHERE DID ASIEDU NKETIA GET THE CASH TO BUY A HOUSE IN CANADA AND SEND HIS FAMILY : HIS WIFE DOES NOT WORK IN CANADA SO HOW DOES SHE LIVE _ASIEDU NKETIA SHOULD BE PREPARED TO TELL GHANAIANS HOW HE BOUGHT HIS CARS !!!!!
Is ca*na*da a barred word? Why?
Your foot soldiers should do all die be die on your behalf while your kids are living in mansions in Canada? You lye bad!
gen. mosq. where is your power now when ndc was calling nana addo short man now you are calling hin hie excelency nana addo. you just try to stop those you call invisible forces they will show you your smoothness level they will give you vip treatment and you will loose four of your teeth.you people were talking like ghana was for you and you alone.you dare the invisible men and you will smell pepper.
Oh. Mr mosquito, just have a govt asset in your possession and when de task force gets to u, resist n let's see. Talk is cheap. I blame those dat follow ur antics sheepishly. U will see ursmoothness level. Twerp
You for chop the money for us to do the resistance eh? You are joking!