Nobody Will Have Time to Read Your Petition; It Doesn’t Make Sense” –

Mustapha Gbande, Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has dismissed a petition submitted by the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) after its "Democracy Under Attack" demonstration, describing it as lacking substance. The petition was submitted to the Presidency on Thursday, August 6, but according to Gbande, it will not be given any attention because it does not address issues that require urgent consideration.

NDC Rejects NPP's Petition as Ineffective

Mustapha Gbande, speaking on JoyFM's Top Story on Thursday, August 6, said the government would not be distracted by the protest, insisting that it remains focused on addressing the country's challenges. He also stated that the NPP had successfully organised the demonstration without any major incident, but the petition presented to the Presidency would not receive attention because, in his view, it did not address issues that required urgent consideration.

NPP's Demonstration Criticised for Timing

Gbande also criticised the timing of the NPP's demonstration, which coincided with activities marking the first anniversary of the helicopter crash that claimed the lives of eight Ghanaians. He accused the opposition party of being insensitive for organising a protest on a day dedicated to mourning the victims. "You go and stand outside, exploit unsuspecting youths to go and stand in the rain on a day that we are mourning and reflecting on a tragedy that has hit this country," he said.

Government to Intensify Arrests

Gbande maintained that the government respects citizens' democratic rights, but warned that those who breach the law would be dealt with. He added that the government would continue its efforts to investigate and prosecute individuals found culpable of wrongdoing. "So let me assure him that the petition they sent will not be read by anybody. They won’t get any feedback. From tomorrow, the arrests will even intensify. Let Ghanaians be the judge," he said.

Government Focus Remains on Addressing Challenges

Gbande stated that the government would not be distracted by the protest and would continue to focus on addressing the country's challenges. He said that the government has a responsibility to maintain order and ensure that anyone who violates the law faces the necessary consequences, regardless of political affiliation. If any evidence emerges against individuals accused of wrongdoing, the appropriate authorities would act, he added.

Petition Will Not Receive Attention

Gbande said that the petition submitted by the NPP would not be given any attention because it does not address issues that require urgent consideration. "Let me assure him that that petition they have submitted today, nobody is going to have time to read it because it doesn’t make sense, and nobody is going to waste time. We have a nation to build. We have a country to build," he said. The government has a lot of work to do, and the petition will not be a priority, he added.

Source: JOY