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President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo called on the leaders of the two main political parties, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC), to come together and agree appropriate measures to save the nation the phenomenon of vigilantism.
He said that he wanted the important meeting to take place preferably next week.
"I asked the NPP leaders to invite NDC leaders to such a vigilantism meeting.
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The security services of the country will be ready to attend this meeting. If voluntary dissolution by the parties is not feasible, then I will propose legislation on this subject, "he said.
In his address to the European Parliament yesterday in Parliament (SONA), the President said: "A lively debate and exchange of ideas should be the real basis for political dialogue and competition in our country, and not the activities of the party groups. "
He said that Ghana would not take its peace and security for granted and that, therefore, acts of violence committed by self-defense groups that have been tolerated over the years can not and must not be accepted.
"What has been tolerated over the years can not and should not be accepted. We must not take our peace and security for granted, not for a moment, "said the president.
"Our children and grandchildren will not forgive us if we want to compromise our peace and stability. I will not allow this to happen under my supervision, "he added.
Rawlings welcomes the call
The NDC's founder, former president Jerry John Rawlings, who was in Parliament with his wife, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, to listen to President Akufo-Addo present his third SONA, then went on Twitter to welcome the call of the president, describing it as being: "disarming".
"I hope that the NDC and the NPP will respond to the call to join forces to fight the scourge of party militias and violent vigilance," Rawlings said.
dignitaries
The Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia; his wife, Mrs. Samira Bawumia; the first lady, Mrs. Rebecca Akufo-Addo; former President John Dramani Mahama, the President of the Supreme Court, Judge Sophia Akuffo, and some members of the judiciary.
Also present were the President of the State Council, Nana Otuo Siriboe II; the chief of staff of the presidency, Mrs. Akosua Frema Osei Opare, members of the diplomatic corps, heads of security agencies and traditional leaders.
Arrival
President Akufo-Addo, who arrived at the premises of the Parliament around 10 am, inspected a guard of honor who had been badembled in the court of Parliament, after which he was taken to the meeting room.
Professor Mike Aaron Oquaye, Speaker of Parliament, delivered his speech with shouts of "hear, hear" from the majority, while the presentation of former Presidents Rawlings and Mahama was hailed by the House.
For the first time, SONA's delivery was not characterized by the usual interruptions, boos and mockery.
The display of placards with inscriptions summarizing the Speaker's speech was also absent, and there were no shouts of "No, no" or "Yes, yes".
The incessant interjections on both sides of the House were also absent, which is an indicator of the growth of Ghana's democracy.
President Akufo-Addo, wearing his dark blue suit over a white shirt and a dark blue tie, said that a lively debate and exchange of ideas should form the true foundation of the dialogue. policy and competition in the country, not the activities of the government. party self-defense groups.
He added that the country's ancestors are paying too much for their blood and their pain to bequeath to the people the beautiful nation of Ghana and that, as a result, citizens' lives are too precious to be ruined.
He urged Ghanaians to be guided by the words of the national anthem, especially the second stanza, and to unite to build the country.
Partial election violence
Recalling the events that occurred in the morning of January 31, 2019 during the partial election of Ayawaso West Wuogon in his speech of nearly two and a half hours, the President said: "My first instinct has been to let the police conduct their investigations. and then sue if they found evidence of their criminality. "
"The narration that there was another incident of normal violence in the byelection caused me to expand my answer.
Last Monday's shooting in Kumasi, where a meeting of national and regional leaders of the opposition NDC had been dispersed by acts of violence resulting in the tragic death of a citizen, had reinforced the urgent need for the country to find this way, "he said.
President Akufo-Addo also referred to the violence that characterized the previous by-elections.
"I could have made it clear, as some did for Akwatia, Atiwa, Chereponi, Talensi and Amenfi West, but I decided that it would not be in the interest of the Ghanaian democracy.
The time has come to put an end to the phenomenon of politically motivated violence and in our system the only way to start dealing with such a situation is to call an investigative commission.
"Fortunately, four Ghanaians with independent minds have agreed to sit on the commission. I hope that the conclusions and recommendations of the Emile Short Commission will allow us to chart the way forward to end the political violence in our country, "said the president.
Support for security services
Paying tribute to the country's security services, he congratulated the men and women of these services for the remarkable work they have done, saying that "security services are at the forefront of our security and that of our country. ".
He referred to the progress made in the treatment of nomadic pastoralists and said that the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) had helped national security to embark on the "Roadstar operation", which had led to the construction of the road warriors. a cattle ranch with over 6,000 inhabitants. cattle in Wawase in the plains of Afram.
Ranch construction, he said, has significantly reduced the tension surrounding nomadic pastoralists in the region.
"It is planned to replicate the construction of ranches in other parts of the country," he added.
President Akufo-Addo said: "The Government is pleased to have kept its promise to the military by increasing the contribution of United Nations peacekeepers from $ 30 to $ 35 per soldier. and by day.
"We will continue to modernize and provide the necessary equipment for the armed forces to help them effectively fulfill their mandate. Tomorrow, I will present to the GAF 50 bus ANKAI, the first tranche of the 138 staff and operating vehicles of different categories, as well as 26 sending motorcycles, "he added.
This year, he said, the government would provide the Armed Forces of Ghana with 30 Otokar armored personnel carriers and six fast patrol boats for the Ghanaian navy.
"We will also improve training facilities by transforming the Military Academy and Training School into a world-clbad institution, expand the housing project from 16 to 44 apartments and start building 160 apartments of two rooms across the country.
"This year, we will also complete and inaugurate the 500-bed military hospital in the Ashanti region and begin the third phase of this project," he said.
With regard to the Ghanaian police, he said that the government had provided him with equipment, cars, motorbikes, drones and other essential police equipment over the past year. It also gave the green light to the recruitment of 4,000 men and women in the country. the service.
"We are gradually increasing the number of police officers and the service is also aware of its responsibilities and offers more training to its agents.
I rely on a better trained, better equipped and happier, more respectful and more cooperative police service.
"We need a well-trained police service if we want to respect the law," he added.
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