Make your words your deeds, Nana tells Mills

The 2012 Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic Party, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, says developments in the ongoing biometric voter registration exercise go contrary to President Mills' stated commitment of ensuring a peaceful, free and fair election in December polls, and has challenged him to walk the talk.

Nana Addo was interacting with journalists yesterday at Kyebi after undergoing the biometric registration process yesterday.

According to the NPP flagbearer, all Ghanaians were happy and encouraged about the declarations made by President about wanting the December election to be fair and peaceful.

However, Nana Addo explained that, “in the world in which we live, words are never enough. You hope that they will be supported by deeds. That's where some of us have a problem.”

Making reference to the assault on Ursula Owusu and Samuel Abu Jinapor by machomen linked to Presidential aide, Nii Lante Vanderpuije, Nana Addo stated that this development was an example of a clear contradiction to the President's comments, “with the police looking on and not being able to do anything about it.”

“That for me is a very regrettable step, especially when you consider the fact that the constituency is one of those being sought after by one of the President's own aides. You wonder then about the comments of the president”, Nana Addo said.

The NPP flagbearer continued, “Either he [President Mills] doesn't have any authority over his own aides or he is deceiving the Ghanaian people when he says he wants a peaceful process. You see no effort being made to bring to book those responsible for the violence, especially in the light of the regrettable statements made by the head of the police service that the police, are allegedly in his words, going to be neutral.”

Nana Addo explained that the inaction displayed by the Police when Ghanaians were being brutalised was worrisome, as, according to him, “the core responsibility of the police is to ensure law and order in the country at all times.”

Nana Addo maintained that it was regrettable that when such acts of violence occur, and the Police take action, they are reprimanded by their own superiors. This, according to Nana Addo, does not augur well for Ghana's democracy.

“It is extremely important that all of us understand that the maintenance of democracy in Ghana is not the responsibility of political parties and leaders of political parties.

“All those in public service who are required to protect the Ghanaian people and the Ghanaian state are as important in making sure that democracy thrives. The role of the security agencies should be impartial and they must uphold law and order. This is absolutely critical”, Nana Addo added.

To ensure that Ghana does not go down the path that has beset some of our sister countries, Nana Addo said “everyone must play their rightful roles to ensure the right things are done,” adding that “it behoves on all of us, if we want politics to succeed”

When asked about his opinion of the ongoing process, Nana Addo said, the registration was going well, and lauded Ghanaians for showing enthusiasm and registering in their numbers.

“I'm encouraged by the enthusiasm Ghanaians have shown in wanting to register and make their voices heard in deciding who becomes leader of this country. I urge those who have not registered to register,” the NPP flagbearer said.  

He congratulated NPP activists for their vigilance and sacrifice and urged them to remain focused and steadfast in the party's quest to reclaim power in the December polls to bring back hope to Ghanaians.