The Ghana Police Service says it is investigating inciteful comments by the Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mustapha Gbande.
The deputy NDC General Secretary is alleged to have urged party members to take cutlasses to voting centres.
According to him, that is the only way the party can ensure the 2024 election is free and fair.
Speaking to Kwame Nkrumah Tikesie on Okay FM monitored by The Thunder, Mr. Gbande said when you have a cutlass in your pocket at the polling station, “nobody can misbehave towards you.”
Cutlass approach
According to him, he has advised the party leadership on the need to adopt the cutlass approach.
“I have told the leadership of the NDC that we have to prepare in advance for the NPP ahead of the elections. when we are going to the polling station, let’s carry with us cutlasses. if we do, the New Patriotic Party will not be able to misbehave toward us, “ he stated.
Mahama’s boot-for-boot
Mr Gbande’s statement comes after the NDC 2024 flagbearer John Dramani Mahama declared boot for boot.
Addressing party supporters , the former President said, “ We respect the constitution of this country and the NDC is a democratic party and that’s why we abide by the rules of the constitution. But the same constitution says that Ghanaians should resist anybody who attempts to subvert the constitution. When you go rampaging with forces and intimidating people when they should come out and vote you are subverting the constitution. And we have a right to resist you.”
“I want to sound a caution that NDC has a revolutionary root and when it comes to unleashing violence no one can beat us to that. It is just that we midwifed this country’s democracy and that is why we must be the first to respect it. That is why we are acting as a party that is docile and respecting the rule of law. But if we believe that the government cannot protect our people and we believe that the government is using its vigilante groups and illegal forces to intimidate and harass and injure our people, then we may have to advise ourselves.”
Read police statement below:
The attention of the Police has been drawn to a statement allegedly made by one Mr. Mustafa Gbandi on Okay FM, an Accra-based radio station which seeks to incite violence during the 2024 general elections.
Police have commenced investigations into the matter in line with the laws and democratic values of the country.
The Police will continue to work with other sister security agencies diligently and patriotically to maintain the peace and security in our country which has made Ghana a beacon of hope on the continent and beyond.
We wish to assure the public that under our watch no one will be allowed to undermine the peace, security, law and order in our beloved country.
