Big Aidoo and His Team Storm Sefwi Boako, Call on Police Hierarchy to Be Proactive

Good afternoon to you all and welcome to this important press conference.

To our friends from the media, we are always grateful for your prompt response and attendance to our press conferences.

Your commitment to ensure a safe and admirable democracy is worth commending.

On behalf of the entire regional executive body, I warmly welcome you all to today’s press conference. The press conference is of extreme importance because it bothers on the safety of our people.

As peace loving political party that believes in democracy, we are indeed troubled by the happenings in the constituency that has the regional capital.

Ladies and gentlemen of the press, it is important for us as stakeholders in Ghana’s democracy to vent our displeasure in relations to the unacceptable happenings going on in our region. Such happenings have become too many hence the need for us to address it.

Though this press conference is aimed at addressing matters of Sefwi Wiawso Constituency, it is of importance we touch on other occurrences in the region during the just ended limited registration and transfer process.

During the registration and transfer period, the NPP as part of their malicious intentions, particularly in Akontombra, Suaman, Juaboso and Sefwi Wiawso Constituencies hired thugs to intimidate the NDC and the general populace who legitimately have come to register or transfer their votes.

Ladies and gentlemen, incidents of violence were recorded in the aforementioned constituencies marring the process. The NPP thugs were seen beating registrants who were perceived to be NDC.

The situation was nasty in Sefwi Wiawso where the Constituency Youth Organizer of the NDC, Comrade Israel Gyakpata was beaten to pulp.

Similarly, the Constituency Organizer of Akontombra, Comrade Enock Adu Gyamfi and others were also beaten by the thugs of Hon Alex Tetteh, MP for Akontombra to the extent that, some of them were hospitalized.

Ladies and gentlemen, the situation was no different from Juaboso and Suaman where our officers were subjected to the inhumane act of the NPP.

In spite of our caution to the NPP, these act continued unabated. More disturbing is the fact that these occurrences, mostly happened in full glare of the police.

Ladies and gentlemen of the press, it is now time to delve into the happenings of Sefwi Wiawso Constituency, for which we are having this press conference.

Historically and traditionally, Sefwi Wiawso has been with the NDC until 2016 and 2020 when the NDC lost to the NPP due to deceit and propaganda deployed by the NPP.

The determination of the NDC to recapture the seat through the ballot has caused more stir to the NPP hence their violent behavior.  

It is imperative for us to state that such happenings are new to our internal politics in Sefwi Wiawso.

Through the days of Hon Danso in 1992 through to the times of Honorables Evans Paul Aidoo and Dr Kwaku Afriyie. The question is, what has changed?

Ladies and gentlemen, the posture of the NPP in this year’s electioneering process is that of violence rather than peace.

They hide behind Chieftaincy because of the trace of their PC to perpetrate this act. We dare say so because the chorus and lyrics of the NPP now has been to use the Sefwi Wiawso Paramountcy in its dealings.

They parade themselves as having the traditional authority backing them hence their undesirable character. This act is unacceptable!

The Main Facts

On Sunday, 9^th June, 2024, at the EC office of Sefwi Wiawso, the NPP members prevented people they suspect to be supporters of NDC from undergoing transfer of their votes with the reason that they have been bused from other constituency, ie Juaboso and Ivory coast.

After hours of confrontation and protest by the NPP it became evident that those people were indeed residents of Sefwi Wiawso who resides in Asawinso and its environs. This was after a chaotic scene leading to injuries on our people by the NPP.

The Parliamentary Candidate of the NDC, Comrade Kofi Benteh with the support of other NDC members took the injured people to the Sefwi Wiawso Municipal Hospital for treatment.

Thinking the issue had died off, the NPP guys on Wednesday, 12^th June, 2024 started the issuance of threats with the reason that the NDC members have gone to the main market of the constituency to hurl insults at the Omanhene.

They claim Hon Isaac Kwaw aka Oga Manu who is an Assemblyman has gone to insult the Omanhene and for that reason, he should be dealt with.

True to their words, the NPP went in for thugs from Sankore to mete out punishment to the said Honorable member of the Assembly. There was near chaotic scene at the EC office when these thugs were brought in.

In the night of the same day, the house of Nana Boakye, a member of the NDC in Boako had been vandalized by these thugs led by the NPP. This got us alarmed and calls made to ascertain the reason behind this unprovoked act. Surprisingly, the situation became worst at midnight when these people came again firing gun shots indiscriminately, causing fear and panic and further causing harm to both NDC members and residents

The room of our former Constituency Chairman’s brother was ransacked, and a base belonging to the NDC was also destroyed. Many damages were caused to innocent people during the act of the NPP.

The NDC as law abiding political party has reported same to the police for investigation. The NPP upon realizing their actions were needless and unwarranted have resorted to shifting the goalposts. They claim what happened has nothing to do with partisan politics but instead a private timber dealing between two persons. This flimsy explanation is nothing but hoax.

Ladies and gentlemen of the press, let us assume without admitting that what the NPP is saying is true, what then necessitated the destruction of Site 19, the NDC base at Boako?

What again, led to the ransacking of the room of Nana Boakye and one of our member who isn’t a party to the said private dealings?

Why the shooting, if one person was the target devoid of politics? What did the macho boys go to Hon. Benteh, the NDC PC’S house to look for him?

These questions are legitimate ones that need to answered. Our fervent hope is for the police to arrest and investigate the matter.

Though we are expecting the police to act as required, we are in clearer terms telling our people to be in readiness for the battle ahead. We are not calling for violence but unambiguously asking all NDC members to protect themselves when need be.

We shall not allow ourselves to be bullied as we always say. As leaders of the region, our pledge is to ensure the safety of our people through the police but if the police is failing in this regard then we shall take our destiny into our own hands by protecting ourselves.

The earlier they the NPP puts an end to their thuggery the better! We wish to end here by reassuring our members that we are with them solidly and always.

The victory of the NDC is assured and the seat of Sefwi Wiawso and all seats in western north are assured.

Lastly, we want to promise all those who have taking the laws into their hands that, CRIME has no expiring date hence they are to be cautious as power is transient.

Thank you and God bless us all.

Long live the NDC!

Long live Ghana!