Ahiagbah slams NDC for post-election violence, leadership complicity

Mr. Richard Ahiagbah, the Director of Communications for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has accused the National Democratic Congress (NDC) of fostering and condoning violence in the aftermath of Ghana’s December 7th general elections. Speaking at a press conference held at the NPP Headquarters in Accra on Thursday, 23rd January, 2025, Mr. Ahiagbah claimed that the NDC’s leadership, led by President John Dramani Mahama, stood by as their supporters engaged in violent acts against individuals, institutions, and private entities across the country.

Mr. Ahiagbah noted that the NPP accepted its electoral defeat with dignity, congratulating President Mahama on his victory and working to ensure a smooth and historic transfer of power on January 7th, 2025. Despite this goodwill, he alleged that the NDC responded with aggression, allowing its members to take the law into their own hands to terrorize Ghanaians.

*Undemocratic*

He described the NDC’s actions as those of a party acting as though it had come to power through a coup d’état rather than a democratic process.

The NPP Communications Director detailed the violent incidents that he said began in the immediate aftermath of the elections. According to him, NDC supporters attacked the offices of the Electoral Commission and destroyed electoral materials in constituencies where they had lost. He claimed they also stormed police stations in attempts to force declarations in their favor. These initial incidents, he explained, gave way to further violence, including attacks on government offices and private institutions.

He alleged that supporters of the NDC vandalized the New Juaben South Municipal Assembly, forcibly took over and locked the premises of the Tema Oil Refinery, disrupted operations at COCOBOD offices, and invaded the Ministry of Energy. He also accused NDC members of setting police installations on fire in Ejura and Attebubu and storming the Eastern Regional offices of institutions such as the National Health Insurance Authority, the National Service Secretariat, School Feeding programs, TVET facilities, and the National Lottery Authority.

*Concern*

He expressed particular concern over an attack on the AngloGold Ashanti mine in Obuasi, claiming it demonstrated a new level of violence that targeted private companies.

Mr. Ahiagbah alleged that the NDC’s leadership, including President Mahama, remained silent while these incidents unfolded, thereby encouraging their supporters to continue.

He criticized what he described as half-hearted statements from the NDC leadership, insisting that these were merely superficial attempts to create the appearance of concern. He argued that their failure to condemn the violent actions of their members was a clear indication of complicity.

The NPP Communications Director presented video evidence at the press conference, which he said showed NDC supporters engaging in violent acts across various locations. He called on the NDC to take full responsibility for what he termed a blatant disregard for the rule of law and urged President Mahama to demonstrate genuine leadership by taking decisive action to address the lawlessness within his party.

Mr. Ahiagbah emphasized the importance of accountability, expressing his disappointment with the NDC for failing to uphold the democratic principles that the country has long cherished. He stressed that the current state of lawlessness undermines Ghana’s democratic stability and appealed for immediate steps to de-escalate the tensions created by these acts of violence.