Managing transition - Rein in bad lots, NPP

Yesterday, two statements were issued by the government and the Ghana Police Service following wild jubilation, attacks on members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the destruction of public property by some members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

In a statement issued and signed by the Minister of Communications, Dr Edward Omane Boamah, at the instance of President John Dramani Mahama, the President expressed his disappointment in the NPP leadership for failing to bring their supporters to order.

The police also issued a statement in which they warned supporters of the NPP to desist from attacking supporters of the NDC across the country and advised them to be moderate in their celebration of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo's victory in the elections.

According to the statement signed by the Spokesperson of the Ghana Police Service, Superintendent Cephas Arthur, police personnel had been deployed to prevent further attacks and also mandated to arrest and prosecute all offenders.

The police also called on the public, especially supporters of the NPP, to desist from engaging in any acts that would violate the rights of other people and also breach the peace prevailing in the country after the polls.

Indeed, we believe that it is the duty of the leadership of the NPP to rein in their supporters who have not only embarked on wild jubilation since the Electoral Commission (EC) announced Nana Akufo-Addo as the winner of the elections but have also resorted to attacks on NDC supporters and the destruction of public property.

That is why we find it gratifying that the leadership of the NPP also issued a statement yesterday condemning the alleged attacks by some of its members on some NDC supporters and appealed for calm among its rank and file.

The fact that one’s political party has won elections does not mean that members of another party must be attacked.

There are many instances when siblings have belonged to opposing political parties because they believe in the ideals of those parties.Everyone has the right of association and the right to believe in something.

The Daily Graphic finds it very shameful that after all the applause from the comity of nations for the successful conduct of the elections, we would stoop so low and attack one another in frenzy because there are losers.

We have been able to maintain relative peace before and during the elections and left with ensuring peace in its aftermath and we cannot compromise on that, else all that we have worked for will be in vain.

We should act in a more mature manner by accommodating all and not attack people we see as not belonging to our party.

The Daily Graphic finds it quite absurd that public infrastructure is being vandalised, as if to say: “We hate you and all that you did for us.”

We must bear in mind that public infrastructure has been constructed with taxpayers’ money and it is unacceptable to destroy it, since we will be the losers in the end.

For this reason, the Daily Graphic adds its voice to those of the President and the police and ask that all those attacking people and vandalising structures must be arrested and prosecuted.

We also ask the NPP leadership to get their supporters to celebrate their sweet victory without causing pain to their political opponents.

Anything to the contrary is objectionable and we urge all Ghanaians to raise their voices against those barbaric acts in order not to defeat our belief that Ghana is the winner of our democratic dispensation.