Agyapong’s caution to EC amounts to terrorism – Security analyst

A Foreign Policy and Security Analyst, Mr. Adib Saani has described the Member of Parliament for Assin Central , Mr. Kennedy Agyapong’s caution to the Electoral Commission (EC) as dangerous and tantamount to terrorism.

Addressing NPP supporters at a rally in Kumasi, Mr. Agyapong said the party will not allow the EC to declare President John Mahama winner of the polls, if there is evidence that Nana Akufo – Addo is the actual winner in the ballot expected to be held in November.

He also called on people to stay indoors because there will be chaos similar to Liberia and Sierra Leone if the EC cheats in favour of incumbent John Mahama.

Commenting on the development, Saani described the MP’s comment as an “act of terrorism.”

According to Saani, “terrorism is not only restricted to long beard men in turbines and masks wielding guns in Iraq or Syria, but can also be described as the calculated use of, or the threat of violence against civilians in order to attain goals that are political or religious or ideological in nature.”

This, according to him is done through intimidation or coercion or instilling fear into people.

Saani cited another example of terror inspired speech by the Former Transport Minister Dzifa Attivor who stated that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) is a tribal party bent on prosecuting only Ewes if it wins the general elections in November.

“Utterances like this has far reaching security implications on the country and the West African sub region in general especially in an election year.Lessons can be learnt from Kenya, Ivory Coast and Central African Republic, among others that have had their share of violent conflicts sparked by tribal and divisive statements by politicians,” he said.

Saani noted that, Section 207 of the 1960 criminal code (Act 29) criminalizes the use of  threatening, abusive or insulting words or behavior in any public place or at any public meeting.

“Any comment with the intention to provoke a breach of the peace or where-by a breach of the peace is likely to be occasioned, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

“Under international law, Article III (c) of the Genocide Convention declares that ‘direct and public incitement to commit genocide’ is a crime. Thus public incitement to genocide can be prosecuted even if genocide is never perpetrated. Therefore, lawyers classify the infraction an “inchoate crime”: and that proof of result is not necessary for the crime to have been committed, only that it had the potential to spur genocidal violence. Thus it is the intent of the speaker that matters, not the effectiveness of the speech in causing criminal action” he added.

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By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana