National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo has officially written to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo over the latter’s call on the country’s two major political parties to dialogue on how to disband their respective militias.
The call by the president was made on Thursday, February 21 in his State of the Nation address to Parliament.
In his letter dated February 28, 2019, Mr Ofosu-Ampofo welcomed President Akufo-Addo’s call and insinuated it is long overdue.
Proposing an expansion:
Ofosu-Ampofo said in the letter that the NDC as the main opposition party wants the discussions to include all political parties, civil society organizations, representatives of the media, representatives of the military, police and other security agencies, as well as any other relevant stakeholders.
The NDC chairman also proposed the inclusion of a mediator and suggested that a representative from the National Peace Council be appointed for that task of moderating the dialogue between NDC and NPP on breaking up party-affiliated militias.
This is a crucial proposal especially considering the contents of the leaked recording on which a voice alleged to be that of the NDC Chairman is heard indorsing verbal attacks at the Chairman of the National Peace Council.
In the letter, the NDC further proposed the inclusion of institutions like the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to assist the National Peace Council.
The NDC, however, asked the government to take immediate steps to disband and disarm the illegal Armed Force being maintained by the National Security Council.
The opposition party also wants the government to abandon its plans and rather instruct its agents in the regions to stop the state-sanctioned recruitment of political party thugs for the purpose of the 2020 general election.
“Your Excellency, I believe that with these as mediator and facilitators, we can look forward to a robust interaction that can only culminate in a successful resolution of the matter.”