We don't support statements, actions that cause ethnic divisions - NPP

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) says it does not support any intemperate statements and actions that can incite and inflame ethnic passions in the country.

It said the party was aware that Ghana was a proud multi-ethnic country, adding, “The NPP, a truly national party, is committed to jealously guarding and promoting this heritage.”

A statement issued by the party in Accra Tuesday, signed by its National Chairman, Mr Jake Otanka Obetsebi-Lamptey, in response to the arrest of the NPP Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin North, Kennedy Agyapong, said the party was “fully behind the police in the execution of their mandate and we expect them to do this in a fair, even-handed and professional manner”.

Mr Agyapong was said to have made an intemperate statement in reaction to the unfortunate incidents in the Odododiodoo Constituency in the ongoing biometric voters registration exercise.

The NPP statement, however, said the current posture of the police to take no action to protect members of the NPP and ordinary Ghanaians, “in the face of such acts of violence, intimidation and exclusion at the hands of the NDC, particularly in Odododiodoo, poses a serious threat to the maintenance of peace and security nationwide”.

It said the arrest of the MP was further evidence of the selective application of the law, stressing that “for the police to take no action against the perpetrators of violence but suddenly discover their powers to take action against those who, in frustration, make statements in reaction to acts of violence and police inaction, sends very worrying signals about the forthcoming general election”.

According to the statement, the action by the police affected public confidence and urged the police to be professional and act without fear or favour.

It said Ghanaians had, in the last few weeks, witnessed with dismay divisive statements by political leaders and violent acts, all because of the voters registration exercise.

It said the NPP had been most disturbed by those acts of violence and intimidation, the inflammatory statements and other illegal acts that had been associated with the ongoing exercise.

“We have also been disturbed by the selective, partisan manner in which the law is being enforced in dealing with the situation. It was for this reason that we issued an open letter to the President of the Republic recently,” it added.