The Deputy National Organizer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Elikem Kotoko, has said his party will not apologize to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) following the scuffle that broke out during the Akwatia by-election between NPP’s Third Vice Chairman, Alhaji Osman Masawudu, and NDC’s National Vice Chairman, Chief Sofo Azorka.
The incident occurred on Tuesday, September 2 at the Akwatia Lorry Station in the Vawaso Electoral Area during the by-election.
In a statement released by the NPP on Wednesday, September 3, the party said that Alhaji Masawudu was physically assaulted by Chief Azorka and his followers, calling for his arrest.
Elikem Kotoko, however, is insisting that the NDC has no reason to apologize, arguing that Chief Azorka was provoked into reacting in such a manner.
“There is nothing to apologize for. The truth of the matter is that, what do you think would have necessitated the actions of Chief Azorka? He was provoked. So provocative behaviour is equally an offense,” he said.
He argued that NPP’s concern is not about that scuffle, but is rather attempting to use the incident as a distraction from its loss in the by-election.
“It is out of shame for an embarrassing defeat, for something that they felt they were so poised to redeem their image as leadership and that they have failed at, and so trying to find straws to latch on to,” Mr. Kotoko argued.
He stressed that the full story must be heard, including Chief Azorka’s account of what was said or done to trigger his reaction.
Mr. Kotoko also recalled that during the by-election, some NPP members stormed the NDC’s party office in the area and began tearing down NDC posters from walls and vehicles, an act he described as another provocation that the NDC chose to ignore.
“I am not trying to equalize, but I am only seeing a political party that has failed and continuously its leadership has failed their membership and therefore they want to latch on to straws,” he stressed.
Still standing firm that the NDC owes no apology, Elikem Kotoko suggested that the matter could still be resolved through dialogue.
“I do not see why there is the need for any apology. However, I will rather recommend that both parties at the highest level should call for a meeting so that this matter can be resolved appropriately,” he said.
