UTV Invasion: NDC Youth Wing Demands Update From Police

The Youth wing of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has written to the Greater Accra Regional Police Command demanding an update on the 16 people arrested for storming the studio of United Television (UTV) during a live programme on Saturday.

“Having identified them as agents of the Akufo Addo/Bawumia-led NPP government, we humbly request an update on the action(s) the Police has taken so far to prosecute them since their arrest,” a statement signed by Ambrose Amos Blessing said on Monday.

Compared to the police response to the attack against Dagbon Radio by NDC affiliated members in May 2023, the wing leader said, the police appears lenient with this attack by members associated with the ruling party- the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

“We make this request against the backdrop of the fact that, on May 3, 2023, when one Hardi Pagzaa and Mumuni Osman allegedly invaded Dagbon Fm in the Northern region, the Police hurriedly arrested them on May 8, arraigned them before a Tamale District Court and by May 11, they were convicted and fined GHC3,600. The speed with which the Police did this was commendable.

“In all these, the Police updated Ghanaians on the identity, political affiliation and the prosecution process. If others engaged in similar act and they were convicted, the instant case of NPP brigands cannot be handled differently.”

But he noted that the identities of the NPP “thugs” appear to have been shielded by the police in this case while information regarding the arrest still remains “sketchy”.

Equality
He further raised concerns about the rule of law as stipulated in the 1992 constitution of Ghana and called for the law to be served without favour.

“These NPP thugs cannot claim to be unassailable because their Party is in government. If for some strange reasons, the Police decide to let these criminals walk free, then we may as well come to the unimpeachable conclusion that the laws of this country have made way for street gangsterism.”

He conclusively warned, “In that regrettable case, respectfully, I can assure you that the youth wing I lead in Greater Accra would henceforth have no regard for anything called law and order in the Region.”