Peter Boamah Otokunor, a Deputy General Secretary of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), has urged President Akufo-Addo to reconsider his “authoritarian totalitarian inclinations,” which he claims are endangering the country’s democracy and worsening the country’s security situation.
Concerns have grown about the deployment of the military to address civil matters that should normally be handled by the police.
The death of several Ghanaians during the 2020 election, the troops’ assault of Parliament, and the most recent killing of two people and the wounding of four more who were demonstrating at Ejura in the Ashanti Region have all enraged many.
The troops’ brutalization of several Upper West Region people in Wa over a supposedly stolen phone has also been highly criticized.
In a Citi News interview on Tuesday, July 06, 2021, during the NDC youth wing’s “March for Justice” demonstration, Otokunor stated that security in the nation is rapidly worsening, and that President Akufo-Addo must act quickly to combat “state-sponsored violence.”
“The people are here in their numbers, and I think that should be a loud statement to the government. The cause that we are fighting for, is a universal cause that transcends age. We are fighting against state-organized killing and murder and citizens’ suffering,” he said.
He said the high turnout for the protest should be a wake-up call to the President and prove the NDC’s commitment to an improved and better security situation in the country.
“This ought to serve as a wake-up call. This should serve as a reminder that the cause must be changed. President Akufo-Addo should reconsider his authoritarian dictatorial inclinations, which he has exposed in our democracy,” he said.
Thousands of supporters and members of the opposition Democratic Congress, NDC, are protesting in Accra against the death and brutalization of people by the country’s security forces.
The supporters, who were mostly dressed in red and black, said that the Akufo-Addo administration is in charge of a deteriorating security situation in Ghana.
According to Mr. Otokunor, the country’s security has worsened, and there has seldom been a resolution to any of the cases under investigation.
“The situation is so terrible that you can’t sleep peacefully in your room. Everyone is concerned. People are passing away. They are assassinating regular people as well as security personnel. These investigations are far from over, and the military and police are using state-sanctioned violence against civilians. That is concerning, and the government must recognize when enough is enough,” said the Deputy General Secretary.
Source: CITINEWSROOM‘March For Justice’ demo: Review your ‘dictatorial tendencies’ – Otokunor to Nana Addo
