The governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Upper East Region has condemned former president, John Dramani Mahama over what the party says are incendiary comments made by the former leader.
In a statement signed by its regional Communication Director, Peter Ayinbisa and dated May 4, 2023, the NPP described Mr. Mahama’s remarks on the protracted Bawku conflict during his recent tour of the region as reckless and “provocative”.
The party contended that the utterances of the former leader do not only have the tendency to derail the efforts of the government to resolve the conflict but could escalate the insecurity situation in the area.
“The NPP condemns the recent comments made by the former President regarding the ethnic conflict in Bawku. It is unfortunate that Mr. Mahama has chosen to be reckless and provocative in his comments, especially given the government’s ongoing efforts to address the conflict and ensure lasting peace in the area”.
It added “The NPP appreciates the Bawku conflict to be a purely ethnic conflict exacerbated by criminal activities. Any attempt by a desperate politician for parochial gains is unfortunate and alarming, thus must be condemned by all”.
Addressing delegates of the opposition National Democratic Congress in the Kusaug enclave during his tour of the region last week, Mr. Mahama claimed that the country always experiences issues of insecurity whenever NPP is in power.
He cited the recent happenings in Bawku to back his claim and assured that he will ensure a resolution of the conflict should he be made president again.
But his comments, the NPP says are ill-intended and only meant for political gain.
Describing the former president as a man desperate for power, the party argued that the NDC has no track record of resolving any conflict of such nature unlike the NPP, which “did the magic in Dagbon when the NDC in eight years reneged on their campaign promise to deal with the matter”.
The party rubbished Mr. Mahama’s assertion that the area was stable under the erstwhile NDC administration, recalling an instance when “former Upper East Regional Minister Mark Woyongo visited Bawku during a period of conflict in similitude to the times we are now; there are (were) serious gunshots for which the minister was instructed to crawl by the military in 2009 to avoid being hit by a bullet”.
The NPP is of the firm belief that the former leader wants the conflict to rage on “until he gets the opportunity to come to power and proffer a solution”, hence, his comments.
Mynewsgh.com
