Western diplomatic missions on NDC-NPP Nima Clash -  November 14

Nii Armah Kweifio-Okai

Nov 15, 2016

The US and UK diplomatic missions in Accra have commented on the clash on Sunday 14 November between NDC marchers close to Akuffo Addo’s house and the security detail in that house. As to what actually happened on Sunday, readers can judge from the debate between an NDC communicator and an NPP parliamentarian at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3f_wEfSNuU

Let me precise about what each Diplomatic mission said about the incident

The US:

In a Press release, the US Embassy stated: “The United States condemns all political violence in Ghana, especially any violent acts directed at political candidates, their homes or families”. See http://www.peacefmonline.com/pages/politics/

politics/201611/298137.php

And at the Press briefing by the Department of State Press Director Elizabeth Trudeau: “The US is deeply disappointed by the targeting of the home and family of the primary opposition presidential candidate,” See http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Nima-clash-Police-failed-Mahama-487048

The UK:

“We condemn all violent acts by the supporters of any political party, including any occurring as a result of holding electoral campaign events close to the private homes of rival candidates,” See press release in http://citifmonline.com/2016/11/14/uk-threatens-to-deny-visas-over-election-violence-in-ghana/

I know a lot of people beat about the bush. I won’t!

1. The NDC should have avoided the route near Akuffo Addo’s house. Even though I agree it is a major road, and the NDC is entitled to use the most convenient route for their match, the ensuing bad publicity does not make the decision a smart one. And I cannot rule out with certainty that some NDC matchers passing by Akuffo Addo’s house would not have directed some expletives at the house. I have no evidence but I am a Ghanaian and I know how we like teasing each other - in good and in bad faith!

2. The NPP is as guilty as hell! I so conclude on the picture of a security detail brandishing a pistol outside Akuffo Addo’s house and the failure of the security details to allow the Police to independently verify allegations that NDC matchers into the Akuffo Addo’s compound threw stones and bottles into the Akuffo Addo’s compound. In the video at the link above, the NPP MP said the pistol was pulled because the security detail noticed an NDC matcher had a knife. That makes the brandishing of the pistol even more stupid. It would have made more sense if the security detail pulled out a machine gun capable of 1000 rounds per minute, given the size of the NDC matching brigade.

Both the UK and US missions threatened to deny or revoke visas to those who incite political violence during the elections. I don’t know whether this angle should have been given prominence over the duo’s real concern for potential violence in the elections. The intention was good i.e., to discourage violence but it dwarfed their real and sincere concerns about potential violence in the elections and their, to date, efforts and encouragement for peace to prevail in the forthcoming elections. And as a disincentive to violence, I even wonder how many of the party political foot soldiers have the means and the wherewithal to be applying or enjoying visa to rich foreign countries. And for those applying or already on visas, would the denial or revocation of visas to such persons be preceded by due process?

Both the UK and US missions said they have no preference for a candidate. What that means is that they can and would work with any candidate elected by the people of Ghana. Otherwise that statement is baloney. Western countries DO HAVE a preference for who leads Ghana in 2017 and that preference is Nana Akuffo Addo. The preference is routed in their belief that democracy would best be entrenched in Ghana if there were two term-limited rotation of power between the two co-dominant parties. This view has major flaws but that is not the purpose of this write up.

The purpose of this write-up is to encourage the two diplomatic missions - spokespersons of the West, to be a little more forthright if they wish to comment on the elections. All they had to do was to advise the NDC to avoid processions near the NPP leader’s house in future in case similar confrontations result in deadly outcomes and to advise the NPP to restrain its security details from brandishing pistols in public gatherings, akin to shouting fire in a crowded cinema.

Ni Armah Kweifio-Okai

November 16, 2016