Reports available to this paper suggest that the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) is recruiting suspected drug users and street youth to participate in its planned demonstration today.
Sources claim that some elements within the party are mobilising youth from areas including Alajo, Circle, Accra Newtown and Kotobabi, allegedly paying them to join the protest with the intention of causing disturbances.
According to the sources, the same group was allegedly used during protests following the arrest and detention of NPP communications officer, Dennis Miracles Aboagye, by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO).
Meanwhile, the Deputy Director in charge of IT and Elections of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), Rashid Tanko, popularly known as Tanko Computer, has accused the NPP of hypocrisy over its planned August 6 demonstration, which coincides with the first anniversary of the helicopter crash that claimed eight lives.
The NPP is staging the protest over what it describes as growing threats to Ghana’s democratic governance.
The party has cited concerns over the acquittal of former Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC) Chief Executive Officer, Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu, as well as what it describes as the arbitrary arrest and treatment of some of its members.
Speaking in an interview on JoyNews’ The Pulse on Wednesday, August 5, Mr Tanko acknowledged that the NPP has a constitutional right to organise a demonstration, provided it complies with all legal requirements and remains peaceful.
However, he questioned the timing of the protest, arguing that it exposed what he described as the party’s inconsistency regarding the remembrance of the eight victims of the helicopter crash.
“The good question is that it has exposed the hypocrisy embedded in their cry when we lost the eight people. Tomorrow is the one-year anniversary. When people died, we celebrate it solemnly and pray for them,” he said.
Mr Tanko maintained that while the NPP is entitled to exercise its democratic rights, political actors should also demonstrate sensitivity during periods of national mourning.
“We are going to demonstrate with people who don’t see anything wrong with that,” he added.
According to him, Ghanaians are closely watching how political parties balance their constitutional right to protest with respect for national tragedies.
However, the National Organiser of the NPP, Henry Nana Boakye, popularly known as Nana B, has rejected claims that the party deliberately selected August 6 to coincide with the anniversary of the helicopter crash.
Responding to accusations by the governing NDC that the date was insensitive, Mr Boakye said the party fixed the date long before it became aware of the anniversary.
“We chose our date way earlier. In fact, before we even heard that… it was only yesterday or so when I received calls that the one-year anniversary of our beloved brothers, friends and fathers who died is tomorrow,” he said during the same JoyNews interview.
He further claimed that the NPP had not received an invitation to any official commemoration.
“Let me say that we have not been invited, though they have sent invitations out to some people,” he stated.
Mr Boakye also accused the NDC of applying double standards, citing previous national tragedies during which, he alleged, government activities continued despite the loss of lives.
“We had some serious bloodshed in this country where we lost over 40 people. The following day, the President had a Thanksgiving service. He was dancing. So are you saying that those 40 lives were less important?” he questioned.
He further referenced other fatal incidents, including a road crash on the Accra-Kumasi Highway, and accused President John Dramani Mahama of failing to demonstrate sufficient concern for victims of such tragedies.
According to Mr Boakye, the demonstration is intended to defend Ghana’s democracy and protest what the NPP considers threats to democratic governance.
“Fighting for the dying democracy under President Mahama is equally important,” he said.
The NPP has scheduled today’s demonstration to protest issues including the acquittal of former MASLOC Chief Executive Officer Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu and what it describes as the arbitrary arrest and treatment of some of its members.
