The National Peace Council (NPC) says, it will not succumb to undue pressure from any political party in the discharge of its mandate to ensure peace and stability in Ghana.
According to the council, it is not a political party and won’t engage itself in any political propaganda that will jeopardize the peace of the country.
The Member of Parliament for Ningo Prampram , Sam George, accused the council of being “one of the biggest threats to the peace and stability of the country’s democracy” after the commission urged calm amidst brutalities arising from the ongoing voter registration exercise.
He further called for the council to be dissolved because of its constant display of “hypocrisy” towards political parties in the country on matters of violence arising from the ongoing voter registration exercise.
But Speaking on A1 Radio’s Day Break Upper East, Chairman of the peace council, Most. Rev. Prof.Emmaunel Asante described the comments by Sam George as unfortunate.
“But Sam Goerge is not happy with us(Peace council) because they expected us to condemn the NPP, something that, the peace council should not do for the reason that, if you condemn the NPP what will you do with the others who allege the NDC has also attacked them?. They have done it to us in the past, they are doing it today, we will remain focus and do what is expected of us. We will not do things under pressure for any political party but we will do things base on facts and what we know.
The peace council is not a political party, we cannot do political propaganda, we will always seek to bring people and invite the parties to a conflict together by telling them to ‘hold their fire’ and find solution to the problem. But unfortunately our political parties and some politicians do not want it that way, so, it is very unfortunate”.
Prof. Asante, reiterated that, the council’s statement was fair, after findings from careful investigations into allegations of violent attacks received from the NPP and NDC found both culpable.
“We received complains from the NDC about other infractions in different places, NPP also sent us similar things. We don’t act on emotions, when we receive information, we cross-check and our investigations show that both parties the NPP and NDC have a case to answer.
As mediators it is not in our position to condemn but our position is to try to advice political parties to comport themselves in line with what they have agreed especially on the vigilante issue and so, the statement that we issue was a balance statement to ensure that, there is peace in the country”.
Prof. Asante, admonished law enforcement agencies to arrest and prosecute perpetrators of violent attacks at any registration centre in the ongoing voters’ registration exercise to curb the menace.
Source:|A1radioonline.com|101.1MHZ|Frederick Yinbil|Ghana
