Bloodbath Looms At Mahama’s Office

…As NPP, NDC Youths Promise Showdown This Thursday

Unless a last-minute intervention by the police, the Cantonments office of former President John Mahama in Accra will be plunged into chaos and turned a battlefield for youth activists of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and their National Democratic Congress (NDC) counterparts this Thursday, October 12.

, after the NPP side had written to the police to notify them of a planned action.

The pro-NPP group, “Fixing The Country Movement,” has declared that they will picket in front of Mr. Mahama’s office to demand accountability from him over his alleged involvement in the infamous Airbus bribery scandal.

While the NPP youths say if they are provoked, they will be forced to show their opponents the stuff they are made of, the NDC youths, on the other hand, called the bluff of their counterparts, saying it will organize a “cleanup exercise” on that same day at the same venue, so its members should come with sharp objects, like cutlasses, axes and rakes.

Ernest Kofi Owusu-Bempah, the convener of the pro-NPP group, speaking on Okay FM, said, “We are storming the office to picket, but I have heard that some NDC youth are writing letters saying that if we show up there will be showdown. That is where there will be proper showdown in Ghana.”

According to him, “I won’t just talk because you know what I can do. We were the ones behind Let My Vote Count, if they say showdown, we will give showdown… It is no threat… they are threatening me that I should come with coffins. I am ready and I will show them showdown, if they are men with balls.”

“We are law abiding citizens, we are going to picket at the office of the former President, we are going there to picket, but if they think they have balls in between their legs, I am daring them that I am using your platform to send a signal to them that if the IGP gives us the go ahead, then they should come and dare us that is where they will see showdown,” Owusu-Bempah told Afia Pokua on Okay FM.

Kweku Baako’s text

In a message read out by Kwame Sefa Kayi, the host of Peace FM’s Kokrokoo’s show, Mr. Kweku Baako wrote: “Why picket the Office of former President Mahama when your concern is about the pace of investigations into the Airbus saga. Shouldn’t the Office of the Special Prosecutor be your focal point, if any? Picketing the former President’s Office is to embark on a journey to a wrong destination. Needless indeed.”

Pay for your coffins & graves

But the NDC youths have also thrown in their version of the salvos threatening it will deal ruthlessly with anyone who misses their way anywhere close to the office of their flagbearer.

“In the event Owusu Bempah and his group remain nonchalant and attempt anything close to what they have announced, they should pay for their coffins and graves before they come,” the NDC youths have cautioned.

A statement from the Greater Accra Regional Youth Organizer said, “The leadership of the regional wing has read with much disdain, a Peacefmonline report of which one Ernest Kofi Owusu-Bempah, a self-styled convenor of an amorphous group, Fixing the Country Movement, has issued a 14-day ultimatum to picket in front of the office of His Excellency John Dramani Mahama.”

Amorse Blessing Amos emphasized that, “This statement goes as a warning or whatever they may want to call it, to Owusu Bempah and whoever he may be planning this with, that they should not dare come closer to Excellency John Dramani Mahama’s office. If he and his lapdogs are men, they should make any silly attempt around that office.”

Warning shots

Meanwhile, some other notable members of the opposition party have said they support Amos’s statement with their full chest.

The Member of Parliament (MP) for the Ningo-Prampram constituency, Samuel Nartey George, in a post, pledged to give his utmost support to the youth to deal brutally with the group.

He wrote: “Dear Amorse Blessing Amos, I have seen your letter to a non-entity that claimed it is preparing to embark on a journey to nowhere.

“Kindly know that I stand ready to offer any support that is needed by the Greater Accra Youth Wing to deal swiftly, brutally and decisively with any silly attempt that he and his paymasters seek to embark on. Enough of the rogue mercenary claptrap in this Country.”

In the same direction, the newly appointed deputy director for IT, Yayra Koku, also urged the police to grant the wish of the group, as the NDC members will also converge there to do a massive cleanup exercise.

He also wrote: “Dear Ghana Police Service, I just saw a letter from the Fixing The Country group signed by Owusu Bempah requesting protection to protest in front of President John Dramani Mahama’s office on the 12th of October, 2023. Kindly grant their request. There will be a cleanup exercise on that same day at JM’s office, and members will come with Cutlasses, Axe, Rake, etc., to clean up the office. Some of the Fixing The Country members are weeds and may need to be cleaned up. Take NOTE of that too.”

Background

The issuing of threats and counter salvos follows a notice by the NPP group to the police administration, informing them of their intention to picket at the office on Thursday.

“We write with reference to Section 1 of the Public Order Act (Act 491), which provides that any person who desires to hold any special event within the meaning of that Act in any public place shall notify the police of his intention not less than 5 days before the date of the special event.”

“In this regards, kindly note that FIXING THE COUNTRY MOVEMENT will hold a public assembly on Thursday, 12th October, 2023 in front of the office of former President John Mahama,” a letter signed by Owusu-Bempah said.

According to Owusu-Bempah, who doubles as the NPP’s deputy director of communications, the protest is aimed at drawing the attention of the Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, to speed up its investigation on the Airbus bribery scandal, in which the name of Mr. Mahama has been mentioned.

The group is unhappy that despite a public admission by the Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, that he is starting a new phase of investigating on the matter, started by the resigned and first SP Martin Amidu, nothing has been heard again.

“As trusting citizens, we want the Ghanaian justice system to open a thorough inquiry on the Airbus Corruption because we strongly believe that former President Mahama has a lot of questions to answer.

“And if, after the 14 days, there’s no action in that regard, Fixing the Country Movement will lead a citizens coalition to congregate and picket in front of the office of former President, John Mahama,” the group said.

  Source: Anchorghana.com