Security Analyst Emmanuel Kotin has accused the New Patriotic Party (NPP) of dragging Ghana’s name through the mud following its reaction to the arrest of Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi.
Chairman Wontumi was recently invited by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) and subsequently picked up by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) for further questioning over alleged illegal mining activities.
His arrest sparked protests by NPP supporters and executives, prompting a military deployment to maintain order at EOCO’s premises.
Speaking on Morning Starr with Joshua Kodjo Mensah, Mr. Kotin expressed deep concern about the party’s conduct, warning that it is damaging Ghana’s international reputation.
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He drew comparisons with developed democracies, referencing the FBI’s search of former U.S. President Donald Trump’s residence.
He said, “How can it be the case that an individual is wanted by state authorities for an alleged crime, and it has become an NPP problem? Is it the case that NPP was complicit in the things they are alleging against the gentleman, Mr. Wontumi or what? I think that our democracy has come very far, and in civilized societies things of this nature don’t happen. In fact, if you listen to international media and the way the NPP is dragging the image of Ghana, it’s so saddening.”
“Look, let me just give this example, my brother. In the United States of America, Trump was the former president. When the FBI had a recourse that he had violated certain provisions of the law, it was his residence not searched? Didn’t we see the drama? So where are we learning these kind of things from? Are we not emboldened criminals to go and commit crime and hide under the party colors? So I think that NPP need to have some kind of self-retrospection, and then bold again.”
Mr. Kotin urged the NPP to exercise restraint and respect state institutions, while calling for a introspection and a commitment to nation-building over partisan interest.
“It is good in life to fail. When you fail and you are beginning from that angle, you are not coming from experience. But this kind of everything they are calling on NPP members to amass, it’s so unconscious. No, I go to teach our state authorities how to conduct its work? Do you know the intelligence they are sitting on? For God’s sake, is it the first time this thing has happened? NPP’s government in the past eight years, where people are not arrested on the same rambo style? . Look, let’s get serious and build our country. Politics has infiltrated every fiber of our institutions, and we are not growing.”
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/Hamdia Mohammed