General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia, is appealing to all members of the opposition party pouring invectives on the Chairman of the Peace Council, Rev. Professor Emmanuel Asante, for his condemnation of Ex-President John Dramani Mahama recent "boot-for-boot" comments to ceasefire.
According to the NDC Chief Scribe, his assessment of the Peace Council Chairman before the 2012 elections till date, shows that he [Rev. Prof. Asante] is among the few impartial and even-handed personalities in the country.
Speaking on Okay FM’s Ade Akye Abia Morning Show, Asiedu Nketia says he was thus taken aback when news broke out that the Chairman of the Peace Council had verbally attacked former President Mahama.
However, he said, upon careful scrutiny of the Professor’s statement, and knowing him for his sense of nobility, the NDC National Executive said, he believes Prof Asante was ambushed by the media to share his views on Mr Mahama's comments without having the full facts at his disposal.
“After the brouhaha surrounding his comment on Mahama’s “boot for boot” statement, I was pondering over what exactly Prof. Asante said and I realised that all the insults hurled on the Chairman of Peace Council could have partly been the fault of the media because he was reported to have insulted Mahama to apologise for his comment.
“ . . and now, seeing the same Peace Council condemning the violence in the by-election, I wondered how the same Chairman at one point insulted Mahama and at another point condemned the brutality in the by-election?” he enquired.
The former President, after some members of the NDC were shot at La Bawaleshie during last Thursday's Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election, warned the ruling NPP saying 'we are going to match them boot for boot'.
“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.”
Hours after his comments, Rev. Prof. Asante is reported to have reacted thus; “if he (Mahama) 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 us 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.”
But Mr Asiedu Nketia does not want the Chairman of the Peace Council hanged. He told Kwame Nkrumah Tikesie in an interview why.
“ . . I want to believe that he had not heard the full tape of Mahama's comments because it was the host who asked him a question as to what Mahama is purported to have said and he [Prof. Asante] responded saying ‘if you say that is what he said then...’and so if you check that interview, it was not an official statement he has issued; either in his name or in the name of Peace Council. It was an interview he granted and someone picked it and made a headline of it as if it is the official statement of Peace Council,” he assessed.
He further added that were it not for this unfortunate error, "I can boldly say he is one of the very few people in this country who are unprejudiced and fair,” he therefore pleaded with NDC faithful not to take Rev. Prof Asante on "based on this mistake.”
Source: Daniel Adu Darko/Peacefmonline.com/[email protected]
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I beg leave Rev. alone. If a gunman is firing at him I am sure he would drop his gun and rather cling his fist and wait for the gunman to get closer to him. I wish him good luck
Every level h3aded and s3nsible person knows NDC is h:ypocrite and ***barred word***, This same man (Rev Asante Antwi) they are lnsulting today, Conderm Nana Addo when said all die be die, did you hear the NPP Iambasting him.
GENERAL TRUE, BUT I WISH TO KNOW FROM YOU WHERE THE FIRST ATTACK CAME FROM AND WHY OTHER MEMBERS OF YOUR PARTY ARE FOLLOWING SUIT. IF YOU DON'T KNOW, THEN ITS YOUR FAVOURITE CANDIDATE WHO STARTED IT ALL. SAD A FORMER PRESIDENT SEEKING ELECTION THROUGH THE BACK DOOR AFTER ENJOYING ALL THER BENEFITS OF A FORMER PRESIDENT CAN INCITE HIS PARTY MEMBERS INCLUDING EVEN THE MINORITY IN PARLIAMENT TO BE UNRULY AND MISGUIDED IN THEIR WAYS AS IF THAT WILL WIN THEM THE ELECTIONS.
Mr Asiedu Nketia you are hyp0crite, what did you say immediately the news broke out concerning the statement attributed to Rev Asante, we have read a lot of responses from you, Don’t turn around as if you are advising them to stop when everyone knows behind the scenes you encouraging them to attack him, we know all your Red!colous tricks, Gyae wo nkuraasisem no
NDC has b@stardized and insulted, every top member of Ghana society who’s opinion was in line with theirs, even their own founder, I wonder the kind of family they came from,and the parents who raised them, they are so uncuItured and unc!v!lized. The worse is that , is starts from the leaders, how many times hasn’t John Mahama used unprinted words to describe highly respected men in Ghana, He started this attack on Rev Emmanuel Asante, I remember what they did to Rev Martey , is not surprised at all that, positions in the party are giving to those with acid!c mouth and can lnsult most, That’s why the party isn’t attractive to the Elites in Ghana, who wants his child to go about lnsulting, how many elites are bold enough to wear their T shirt in public apart from those who don’t know their left from right
NDC is confused! One faction says this another says that! No clear direction!
Who has made you a judge over anybody? You do not have the moral right to be saying this. Do you think for him? He is not a cheap man to be dictated to. PLEASE KEEP YOU DISTANCE AND SHOW HIM THE RESPECT HE DESERVES.