A member of the Council of Elders of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr. Ato Ahwoi, has warned the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) be prepared to be paid back in their own coin when the NDC wins power in the 2020 general elections.
Mr. Ahwoi, who is one of NDC’s stalwarts, said the party had observed how the Akufo- Addo-led New government is using state security agencies to persecute some key members of the main opposition party in the country, assuring that when there is a change of power they (NPP) will pay for that.
His comment comes after the NDC National Chairman, Samuel Ofosu Ampofo was picked up by the police for interrogation on Tuesday.
Hundreds of NDC supporters clad in red gathered at the Police Headquarters to support their Chairman following his detention, which the party said was fuelled by some political elements in power.
Reacting to the arrest, Mr. Ahwoi said the party was not afraid of the tactics of the police to divert attention from the hardships and the lies of the government and hastened the NDC could do same to key members of the NPP when they win power.
“Whatever the NPP does, we will win the elections [in 2020], but when we win we will do more than what they are doing to us,” Mr. Ahwoi fumed in an interview with Mugabe Maase on Inside Politics.
When asked if he was serious about what he had said, the NDC bigwig retorted in Akan,” we can do even better than what they are doing,” adding that certain dangerous made by some NPP members made can be used against them.
“Crime has no expiry date,” he said while vowing that the NPP will be pursued in the same manner they are disgracing the NDC national chairman.
He also urged members of the NDC to be strong and firm, assuring them that the “political persecution” of Mr. Ampofo can not intimidate them and stressed that they should go about their usual businesses and support the party at all times.
Arrest
Mr. Ampofo was picked up at Labone, a suburb of Accra on Tuesday afternoon. The police said it had obtained warrants from an Accra High Court to arrest Mr. Ofosu Ampofo to answer for various acts of kidnappings in the country.
Chairman Ampofo was released from police custody after being detained for about an hour.
All electronic gadgets belonging to Mr. Ampofo were seized for forensic investigations before he was released. The seized gadgets are expected to help the police to determine whether the NDC chairman had any relationship with the suspects detained over kidnapping cases and market fires in the country recently.
His arrest was anticipated because Mr. Ampofo had earlier declined a May 7 invitation to assist investigations into the allegations of arson and kidnapping when the CID said some suspects had mentioned his name as an accomplice.
Court Case
Already, Mr. Ofosu Ampofo is standing trial for allegedly setting out a road map of criminal activities, including violence against the EC Chairperson, Jean Mensa and the Chairman of the National Peace Council, Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Asante.
In that leaked audio Mr. Ofosu Ampofo has described as “doctored” to tarnish his image, a voice that sounds like him is heard allegedly talking about plans to kidnap people and set places on fire.
Mr. Ampofo has denied saying those words on the tape.
Last week, an Accra High Court ruled that the charge of assault on a public officer filed against Mr. Ampofo was right in law.
This was after his Lawyers had filed an application with a case that the charges were defective because the prosecution failed to provide any particulars on them, and prayed the court to dismiss those counts.
However, the June 7 ruling by Justice Samuel Asiedu, held that the said defects argued by the defense were not fatal and that the charges were recognizable under the law.
