‘You will breach law if you attack back’

CREDIT:MYJOYONLINE
The police administration has entreated the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) to abandon its decision to retaliate alleged attacks by New Patriotic Party (NPP) supporters on its members.

Police PRO, Superintendent Cephas Arthur in an interview with Francis Abban, host of The Pulse programme on the JOYNEWS channel on MultiTV Thursday said NDC members who attack persons who harm them would be infringing on the law.

Post-election reports in the media are replete with stories of attacks by some New Patriotic Party (NPP) supporters on NDC members.

NDC leadership has served warnings to the NPP to call its members to order.

At a news conference in Accra, NDC National Chairman, Kofi Portuphy said the attacks are becoming too many in the country.

He listed attacks on the Brazilian contractors and workers who are working on the Kwame Nkrumah Interchange and the killing of an NDC supporters in Dunkwa-on-Offin in the Central Region to stress his point.

The alleged attack on a popular actor, Wofa K. courted his attention although the story has been described as fictitious.

A visit by JOYNEWS revealed the actor had staged it.

Mr Portuphy said after January 7 when President-Elect, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo would be inaugurated, the NDC would not treat as lightly attacks on its members.

NDC National Organiser, Kofi Adams defended the decision of the party’s chairman.

Speaking to Evans Mensah, host of Joy FM’s Top Story programme Thursday, he said although the police are doing their best, it is not enough.

“If someone is holding a stick and heading to your direction will you allow him to strike you with it?” he asked, adding the best action would be to react.

But the police say it is in charge of the situation. Superintendent Arthur said the police have arrested eight persons since the alleged violence started.

“We are on cases like what happened in the Brong Ahafo where some people burnt down toll Booth. Some of them have been granted bail after they were arrested,” he said.

Christian Council General Secretary, Reverend Opuni Frimpong charged political actors to restrain their supporters in the country.

“We’ve reached a point where politicians and political parties must know that democracy thrives on law abiding citizens.”

He said the Council would raise the alleged rampant attacks ongoing in the country in the media urging the police to arrest persons found committing the act.

“It is a criminal issue,” he said, adding the Council expects the NPP to condemn alleged vandalism carried out by its supporters at Dunkwa-on-Offin.