NDC Suame Youth Organiser Granted Bail
The Asokwa District Court in the Ashanti Region has granted bail to the Suame Youth Organiser of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Koampa Razak Avoliya.
The bail is to the tune of GH¢50,000 with two sureties, Graphic reports.
He appeared before the court on Tuesday, February 14, 2023.
He was arraigned in court on February 9 where he was remanded into police custody over charges of offensive conduct, conducive to breaches of peace of the state.
He will reappear in court on March 9, 2023.
Background
Koampa Razak Avoliya was captured in a viral video inciting NDC youth at Suame to use violence to secure power in the upcoming general elections.
He said, “according to my experience in politics, we can’t defeat the Akufo-Addo administration on paper but with violence and you can’t use violence without casualties.”
“Based on violence we have been subjected to, I have advised the youth to beat up any NPP member because that is the only way we (NDC youth) can survive in this constituency”, he went on.
He added, “If Akufo-Addo killed eight people to win the election, why would it be wrong to kill two to get power…I have advised the NDC grassroots to prepare themselves for that and use sticks or guns if they have to, to win power.”
He also said the national executives of the party endorsed his decision.
Following the circulation of the video, the Ghana Police Service in a brief statement on Monday, February 6, 2023, said the Ashanti Regional Police Command had initiated steps to arrest him.
NDC Defence
But the National Communication officer of the Party, Sammy Gyamfi in a statement said Avoliya failed to get his communication right.
“We note that the young man misspoke, as the message he sought to convey did not come out as intended…While we do not subscribe to violence as a party, except in cases of self-defence, we cannot overlook the genuine sentiment and frustration of people who feel helpless in the face of incessant and unprovoked attacks and killings under Akufo-Addo /Bawumia government.”
According to the NDC, he spoke out of “pain” and must therefore be pardoned.
Sammy said, “it is an indisputable fact that state-sponsored violence and thuggery has been the modus operandi of the Akufo Addo/Bawumia/NPP government. The Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government has benefitted and continues to profit from violence as witnessed in the Ayawaso West Wuogon bi-election, the 2020 Voter Registration Exercise and the 2020 General elections during which eight (8) were murdered by state-sponsored bandits belonging to the ruling NPP.”
He further called out the NPP over their condemnation of Avoliya after President Akufo-Addo’s infamous “All die be die” utterance and other similar utterances by some NPP figures who have gone unpunished.
Arrest
The arrest of Avoliya was announced on Wednesday, February 8, 2023, by the Police.
Source: opemsuo.com/Hajara Fuseini
