The US Ambassador to Ghana, Robert P Jackson, has rebuffed accusations by the governing National Democratic Congress that it has taken sides in condemning Sunday’s clash between supporters of the NDC and the main opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) in front of flag bearer Nana Akufo-Addo’s Nima residence.
The NDC, in a statement on Wednesday wondered why the UK and US governments never issued threats to revoke or refuse to give visas to politicians who incite violence during the times that the NPP and its supporters got embroiled in violent acts, but have found it necessary to do so following reports of Sunday’s.
Both the UK and US governments condemned Sunday’s violence and all political violence in Ghana in the run-up to the presidential and parliamentary elections on 7 December.
“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,” the British High Commission said in a statement a day after the incident which occurred after supporters of the NDC allegedly threw stones into the residence of Mr Akufo-Addo, during separate Keep Fit events held simultaneously by both parties.
“The UK is a great supporter of Ghana’s democracy and of maintaining its electoral record. We admire the open and energetic nature of its campaigns. We believe that violence has absolutely no place in the electoral process,” the statement continued, adding: “We, therefore, call on all Ghana’s political actors to promote peace, and to respect Ghana’s electoral and constitutional processes. All political parties should strongly urge their supporters to refrain from, and indeed actively condemn any violence, incitement or intimidation which only serves to undermine democracy.”
The UK noted that it would continue to work with Ghanaian institutions, including the Electoral Commission, Police, Judiciary, National Peace Council, civil society groups and the media to support Ghana’s efforts to hold credible, peaceful and fair elections while remaining entirely neutral.
The United States also said it was “deeply disappointed by the targeting of the home and family of the primary opposition presidential candidate”.
“We condemn all violence in Ghana including political violence in the period leading to, during, and immediately following Ghana’s elections scheduled for 7 December. Ghanaians from across the political spectrum have worked hard to build one of the leading democracies in Africa. We call on all Ghanaians to remain peaceful and respect the democratic process.
“We specifically call on candidates, their parties and their supporters to reaffirm their pledges to renounce violence and settle any disputes through the judicial process,” Department of State Press Director Elizabeth Trudeau said at the Daily Press Briefing on Monday, November 14, 2016.
In the NDC’s response to the two countries, the party said it “notes with interest the threats issued by the two missions to revoke visas and other such diplomatic actions and wonders why similar threats or sanctions have not been considered after previous incidents when the NPP and its supporters have been engaged in inciting or instigating violence, including hate speech”.
Mr Jackson, has, however, said nowhere in the US’ condemnation of the clash did the country apportion blame or seek to side with one side.
“If you read the statement read by the Embassy and made by the Public Spokesperson in Washington, we do not ascribe blame for any act that occurred. The point in issuing the statement was to alert people that the US government is and was concerned about political violence. That message seems to get lost a bit in attempting to say that we are blaming one party or another. The statement does not blame anybody. I want to be really clear about that. The Embassy’s statement, which is much longer, is very clear that we were expressing our concern about violence,” he said.
“The statement by the Department’s Spokesperson used the word ‘targeted’ in terms of talking about Mr Akufo Addo’s house, but it does not say who started it, who ended it, and who was responsible; so I want to underscore that we are not trying to take sides,” he added.
He reiterated that the US remains impartial as far as Ghana’s December 7 polls are concerned. “We value our relationship with the government of Ghana. We value our relationship with the National Democratic Congress and with all other political parties. We are not trying to say we support this party or that party. What we support is a fair process and the fairest process will be free of violence and intimidation,” Ambassador Jackson assured.
Source: Ghana/AccraFM.com
