Deal with lawless NDC youth – Minister directs police

Joseph Yiele Chireh, Minister of Local Government         The Local Government Minister is demanding the swift arrest and prosecution of all individual members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) youth groups across the country responsible for the violent lockups of offices of some District Chief Executives (DCEs). Youth activists of the ruling National Democratic Congress in the Brong Ahafo and Volta Regions Friday stormed the offices of the DCE’s of Ahafo Ano South and Kedjebi respectively to sack them from their offices. The Minister of Local Government, Joseph Yiele Chireh has condemned the violence and charged the police to deal decisively with the irate NDC youth. He described the behaviour of the youth as an “unfortunate development”, which to some extent signifies “violence being substituted for democratic expression”. Mr Yiele Chireh conceded that everybody in Ghana has the right to express his or her views “but not in this manner”. Inasmuch as this appalling behaviour must be discouraged, he also implored all and sundry to observe and maintain law and order in the country. He said failing to adopt the appropriate channel to address their concerns demonstrate their lack of respect for the president who appointed the DCEs. He argued that it would be of no use to appoint district chief executives if, at times baseless agitations by some disgruntled people would push the president to remove them from office. For Kojo Pumpuni Asante, head of Governance & Legal Policy at the Centre for Democratic Development, all would have to “work very, very hard to nip this [unwarranted attacks] in the bud”. He said if such attitudes are not contained, others may unfortunately emulate them and the corollary being insecurity and instability that would make the government of the day ‘impotent’ with no clues to solve any crisis. Mr Asante also warned that it would backfire, if a government would countenance such behaviours because it wants to please particular groups in order to hold on to power. DSP Kwesi Ofori, Director of Police Public Relations assured that the police will clamp down on lawless citizens without any discrimination. Story by Isaac Essel/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana