Mahama’s ‘boot-for-boot’ comment “irresponsible” – Okudzeto

Council of State member, Sam Okudzeto, has condemned former President John Dramani Mahama for stating that the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) will be forced to match the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) “boot for boot” in the 2020 general elections as far as violence is concerned, if the Akufo-Addo government does not reign in the “hoodlums” that fired gunshots at NDC members and injured several of them during the Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election on Thursday, 31 January 2019.

“Unfortunately, I think that (Mahama’s comment) is also irresponsible. We respect former presidents…They are supposed to set the standard, the example for others to follow. Therefore, if something like this (election violence) happens the former president has access to the current president. These are matters he (Mr Mahama) should take up with them to talk about and see that the right this is done [and] not to make provocative statements of this nature because what he is saying is an encouragement for others in the NDC to say they can also behave in the same way…but two wrongs do not make a right,” he said in an interview on Accra-based Joy FM on Monday, 4 February 2019.

The former President of the Ghana Bar Association indicated that solutions must be provided when something wrong occurs but not inciting violence in retaliation to misconducts meted out on certain individuals.

Mr Mahama’s comment was in reaction to the violence that marred the Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election on Thursday, 31 January 2019.

Some macho men in NSC-branded t-shirts who are suspected to be members of a vigilante group, fired gunshots at some voters at the Presby JHS polling station injuring six of them.

Mr Okudzeto further stated that the individuals responsible for the violence and shooting should be identified and punished.

Source: Ghana/ClassFMonline.com