Let's forgive Mahama, he wandered – President of the Peace Council

General News of Sunday, February 3, 2019

Source: 3news.com

2019-02-03

The President of the National Peace Council, Professor Emmanuel Asante, has criticized former President John Mahama for his recent comments on the shooting incident in Ayawaso West Wuogon, saying the violence had been pronounced.

During the shootout near a polling station during the by-election on Thursday in Accra, John Mahama reportedly stated that no political party in Ghana could outperform the Democratic National Congress in terms of release of violence.

Condemning the violent incident that injured at least six people and forced the NDC to withdraw from the elections, Mahama accused the NPP of violent propaganda, claiming that the NDC could also undo it when it was pushed to the extreme.

Nobody can beat NDC when it comes to unleashing violence – Mahama tells NPP
This comment was condemned by many Ghanaians who believe that Mahama's declaration is an incitement to violence, which augurs badly for a democratic country like Ghana, known for peace.

Speaking Saturday on TV3's key points, Professor Asante said the former president should not have made such a statement that would tend to fuel more violence in the country.

He added that the Mahama should have commented on the violent demonstration in Ayawaso as a leader to calm the nerves instead of feeding the already agitated populations.

"In the face of provocation, leaders must lead the way and temperament is expected to be mastered. I want to say that it is very unfortunate that a leader or a statesman comes to say that, "said Professor Asante.

Without chopping the words, he added: "In this particular case, my brother, his excellence, went too far and I think we have to say it as is".

He noted, however, that to the extent that Mahama made such a statement, he should be forgiven.

This, he explained, is due to the fact that the former president must also show responsibility towards the faithful of the NDC and should have given them some form of insurance because some of their members were caught in acts of violence and hurt many.

"Faced with provocation, the temptation is to play in front of the gallery and I think what he said is playing for the gallery. You have a lot of people sitting there, and when he said what he said, they were all applauding.

"But we will forgive him, in front of his people, he needed to say something and make him psyche, he had to let them know that he was concerned about what was going on, so forgive him," the Council national peace. President says.

In the meantime, he called for calm in the country and urged the NDC and the NPP to call their members to order and protect the peace prevailing in Ghana.

Professor Emmanuel Asante also urged the police administration not to delay in punishing the perpetrators of the shooting that occurred in Bawaleshie during the partial election of Ayawaso West Wuogon .