NDC supporters asked to observe decorum at Court Precincts

The Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP) has asked the leadership of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to restrain its supporters from making excessive noise at the precincts of the Fast Track Court trying the former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, and others for allegedly causing financial loss to the nation.

The party said although it was not against the leadership encouraging the rank and file to lend moral support to Nana Konadu, as well as the former Finance Minister, Mr Kwame Peprah, it considered it prudent that the supporters be quiet during court proceedings.

The leader of the GCPP, Mr Dan Lartey, who made the appeal in an interview in Accra, said it was unfortunate that members of the NDC who thronged the court resorted to making a great deal of noise to the discomfort of the trial judge.

Mr Lartey implored members of the NDC to realise that the Judiciary was an important arm of government and must accordingly give it the respect it deserved.

He added that it amounted to indiscipline if members of the largest opposition party were engaged in drumming, dancing and singing at the trial of Nana Konadu and others.

He submited further that it showed disrespect for the law, adding that the impression created by such scenario about the NDC was that the party consisted of people who frowned on the rule of law.

“Mark it on the wall, the unwarranted behaviour of members of the NDC will definitely raise eyebrows among representatives of the international community in Ghana who will inform their home governments about events during the trial,” Mr Lartey said.

The GCPP leader praised the trial judge for restraining himself in the face of such provocation by the NDC members, stressing that “the judge has allowed his maturity to prevail”.

He advised the judge not to play into the hands of the NDC members whose activities were apparently intended to intimidate him but to continue exercising decorum in the discharge of his duties.

“It is my hope and prayer that the judge will not allow the emotions and sentiments of the NDC members who besiege the court premises to cloud his good sense of judgement in the case before him,” the GCPP leader said.