Re: "Police In Sefwi Wiawso Investigate Two NDC Members For Insulting Akufo Addo"

The New Patriotic party in Sefwi Wiawso wishes to add its voice in respect of a press release sanctioned by the National Democratic Congress in the ongoing investigation of two members for peddling falsehood against the Persona of the first gentleman of the land, His Excellency the president of the Republic of Ghana.

The said piece which same has been reproduced on the online portal of peacfm linked the personal aid to the western Regional minister as the one who lodged the complain to the Sefwi Wiawso Police for the police invitation of the two. Again the said piece sought to bring in the MP for Sefwi Wiawso as the brain behind the matter in issue which is before the criminal investigation Department of the Ghana police Service.

The reportage on peacefm which contains the sole explicit explanation of the two who are currently before the CID is a palpable falsehood seeking to court sympathy in the public gallery. The two are before the criminal investigation department for unsubstantiated defamatory and libelous remarks against the president of the Republic of Ghana. Thomas Mintah who was on the said show alleged that, His Excellency the president has giving contracts to his ex-girl friend. When the host of the show demanded evidence from him, he resisted with assurance that, at the right time, he will provide the said hard core evidence to back his claim. This however forced the host to issue a disclaimer distancing the corporate entity from the said obnoxious allegation.

A cursory and a fleeting perusal of Section 113 and 114 of the criminal offences Act,1960(Act 29) will tell you that, such conduct is a clear prohibition. For proper and better understanding of this legal education, the said provisions are going to be reproduced in the next paragraph.

"Section 113 *of the criminal offence 1960(Act 29)*—Cases in which a Person is Guilty of Libel.

A person is guilty of libel, who, by print, writing, painting, effigy, or by any means otherwise than solely by gestures, spoken words, or other grounds, unlawfully publishes any defamatory matter concerning another person, either negligently or with intent to defame that other person.

*Section 114—Definition of Defamatory Matter*.

Matter is defamatory which imputes to a person any crime, or misconduct in any public office or which is likely to injure him in his occupation, calling or office, or to expose him to general hatred, contempt, or ridicule. (2) In this section "crime" means a felony or misdemeanour and also any act, wheresoever committed, which if committed by a person within the jurisdiction of the Court, would be a felony or misdemeanour."

The criminal investigation department which is an intelligence unit of the Ghana police service acted on their intelligence which is their mandate and for that matter, it will be a contempt of common sense for some one to suggest that, a complaint has been filed by some one whose issue was not brought with regards to the said malicious attack on the president .

One would have thought that, since Thomas Mintah on the show ostensibly insisted that, he will provide evidence when the time is due, police invitation will be an opportunity for him to adduce hard core evidence that will go a long way to implicate His Excellency the president. But what we have seen is a sharp lampoon and a shifting of the goal post for the purpose of mischief and the casting of needless aspersion.

Hon.Dr Kweku Afriyie whose name has been dragged as being behind this police invitation only exposes the wicked lies of the NDC because, his outfit has not lodged any complaint to the police. More over, same people who accused the personal aid of the Honorable are the same people putting out such a claim against the honorable member who knows nothing with regards to this pending investigation. Seriously we have known the NDC as a party that thrives on lies as it was evidenced in their " comfortable lead" mantra during the 2016 general election when it was indeed clear that,they were losing the election but decided to peddle falsehood that sought to suggest that,they were winning. The public should disregard such a blatant falsehood by the NDC because, the news headline as reported by starfmonline did not bring in MP for Sefwi Wiawso constituency as the one who was put on the altar of *ASSAULT* by the two gentlemen. Their allegation against the western Regional minister is only intended to incite him against the public. How can some one whose conduct has not been brought into the matter pending investigation be the one behind such criminal investigation concerning people who made contemptuous remarks against the president of the Republic of Ghana? This is a clear case of hatred which ought to be thrown into the dustbin.

Also in the said starfm misleading reportage,Thomas Mintah who said the NDC is exposing rot within the confines of the Hon MP failed to disclose the said rot but decided to link the purported rot he said the NDC is exposing to his invitation by the police. Clearly, the disjointed and druken-like falsity is enough for every reasonable mind to treat their claims with the necessary disdain it deserves.

Let us respect our laws and allow institutions to work out their constitutional obligations.

Ben Oppong
Sefwi Wiawso Constituency Secretary