The National Democratic Congress (NDC) is demanding that the Inspector General of Police, James Oppong-Boanuh provides security for its newly-elected Members of Parliament, following what appears to be systematic attacks on them.
Since the December 7 elections that show that the NDC may eventually become the majority in Parliament, at least two NDC MPs-elect have been brutally attacked by hoodlums believed to be linked to the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP).
“…we repeat our condemnation of these acts of violence and demand that all our Members of Parliament Elect be provided with adequate security by the Inspector General of the Ghana Police Service.”
This is contained in a statement signed by the NDC’s Director of Communications, Kakra Essamuah.
“The brutal assault on the person of Madam Dorcas Toffey, Member of Parliament Elect for the Jomoro Constituency in the Western Region, resulting in her hospitalization, and serious injuries to several members of her household and NDC supporters, was clearly designed to cause severe injury to her, in the expectation that she may not be able to take her seat at the time of the swearing-in, thus enabling the NPP to claim majority status and empower them to select the Speaker of Parliament.”
“Similarly, the murderous attack against the NDC Member of Parliament of the Keta Constituency, the Hon. Mr. Kwame Dzudzorli Gakpey, was also clearly intended to achieve the same purpose,” the NDC alleged.
Hon. Dorcas Toffey, who is mother to singer, Fantana, was attacked in her home in a raid reportedly led by a Constituency Secretary of the NPP, Eric Muah.
The criminals had laid siege on her house and pelted it with stones before breaking in and attacking her with a stick, leading to her hospitalization.
In the case of Dzudzorli Gakpey, the NPP hoodlums had broken into his home and assaulted him with sharp objects, leading to his hospitalization also. In this case, the NPP has claimed that the attackers were armed robbers and not party youth, but the NDC has rubbished the claim.
The party also advised its MPs-elect to beef up their own security as well.
The Majority in the Ghanaian Parliament is still under dispute, but it appears more likely that after the disputes are sorted out, the opposition NDC may become the Majority in the august House.
Such Attacks and possible killing of any of the NDC parliamentarians will instantly revert the opposition to its minority status in Parliament.