“I am not violent”; Nana Addo

Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo  Flagbearer of the main opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), has said he is not violent as it is being alleged by leading members of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC). He said if he were violent as some people portray him, he could have caused Ghana to burn following the general elections in 2012 arguing he never did that. Addressing a group of party faithful in Kumawu, Nana Akufo-Addo said there are a lot of people who are trying to tag him as violent but all that will not work because Ghanaians know he is not a violent man. He said he loves the country more than he does for his own life arguing a violent person would never do that.

Following the arrest of the three South African ex-cops by the Bureau of National Investigation (BNI), it was revealed that the NPP leadership had invited them to help train security operatives of the flagbearer. Some leading members of the NDC went ahead to acuse the NPP flagbearer for fomenting trouble and trying to temper with the safety and security of the country.

Acting National Chairman of the NPP, Freddie Blay told JOYNEWS that the party had chanced on some intelligent report which indicates some persons in the country have plans to harm the flagbearer and the running mate, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia. He admitted the party invited the three men arguing it was to help beef up protection for the party’s leadership ahead of the November polls.

 However, Nana Akufo-Addo has refuted such claims saying he is peace-loving and he wants peace in Ghana just as much as everyone. According to him, if ever there will be violence in Ghana; it will never come from members of the NPP. He argued the NPP tradition is peace-loving because the party’s founders loved democracy, believed strongly in it and laid down their lives for it.

Nonetheless, Nana Akufo-Addo remarked that members of the party will not stop exercising their freedom of speech to help put the country on a better footing. He said the NPP will speak up and oppose any decision or policies which are not in favor of the general welfare of Ghanaians.

 The flagbearer also said the party will not allow anyone to exploit and take NPP members and Ghanaians for granted adding this will never be countenanced in the country ahead of the November polls. He said the leadership of the NPP will make sure no one rigs the 2016 general election arguing they will not allow it.