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
Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. |
I am only interested to the out come expenditure of the committee whether it will be like they created looted and shared when they were in power baddd people why is aseidu nketia now enrolling into military is it to protect and defend your stolen properties don't wast your every unlawful access will be taken from you and your members and you should know that our system did work only when NDC is in power we been know of this by JDM but you can see that the system is working so Ghana will work again
@ T.K or whatever your name is let me tell you npp is not telling NDC where the power lies but rather they are digging their own pitch down time to come. Don't forget npp would also in the shoes of NDC one day.
Johnson take the matter to court if you have any problem with the law.Remember your house is next and your business with the dam as block contractor.
Madam keep on pushing anything that belongs to the state must be return.This is simple,the lands,buildings,cars and money included.This is rule of laws
WHAT BAWUMIA AND NPP ARE DOING IS VERY NECESSARY. YOU CANNOT KEEP WATER IN A LEAKING POT. IT WILL ALL DRAIN OUT. NDC BY THEIR CORRUPTION HAS MADE GHANA ECONOMIC SYSTEM A LEAKING POT. THE ECONOMIC LEAKAGE MUST BE STOPPED BEFORE WE CAN STABILIZE THE ECONOMY. WHAT NPP IS DOING IS EXACTLY WHAT WAS DONE IN THE DEVELOPED WORLD TO KEEP THEIR ECONOMY STABLE FOR GROWTH. WE MUST ALL ENCOURAGE AND SUPPORT NPP TO UNCOVER THE CORRUPTION LEFT BEHIND AND LOOK FOR THE RIGHT MEANS TO STOP IT. IT IS ONLY BY THAT WE CAN KEEP GHANA SAFE.
as for this man, he will suffer paaaa, he think he is wiser than God. You know very well state property must not be taken because the winning party will use the same assets. Why should you even pride yourselves in taken what belongs to the state? are you people still not tired of stealing from the government? you people are very greedy and you will never go free from the sight of God.
Contrary to what others think, there is virtually no power in being in power. You have all the ammunition but you cannot use them because you want to maintain a good human rights record. In fact, there is more power being in opposition than being in power. Unlawfully arrest or detain anybody and see what will happen. You think when Mahama was being heckled left right centre by NPP he did not know he had armed men behind him. He had the arms but he dared not use them. It is now NPPs turn. Can they be as tolerant and peaceful as Mahama was? Only time will tell.
SO SOON NPP IS showing NDC where power lies
Mr Asiedu, I would prefer that you equally advise your party members to return all state assets illegally acquired by them. This is very simple! How can wall TV at Flatstaff house be taken away by NDC? Well, the Office of Special Prosecutor will be established legally. It is begins to prosecute some corrupt members of your party who held public offices, don't come and complain of witch-hunting. The reason you cannot even stay one month with your wife in Kanada is because, nobody has time for your politics in that country. You are General Mosquito only in Ghana, no one has time for you in Kanada and no one values you there.
ALL OF THEM MAY BE PART OF THE LOOT AND SHARE. THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD IGNORE SUCH THREATS.