The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has expressed concern about reports circulating in the media, alleging that prominent citizens including Pastor Mensa Otabil have been placed on a hit list and threatened with violence by "hoodlums". The party specifically referred to a story in the Saturday, December 13, 2008 issue of the Daily Graphic, and subsequent publications in other print and electronic media which alleged that Pastor Mensah Otabil and other prominent Ghanaians are being threatened by certain hoodlums believed to be agitating for the breach of the peace of the country. This was contained in a press statement the NDC issued and signed by Ms Hannah Tetteh, Communications Director of the party. "We have noted the vagueness of the allegation which does not allow for easy investigation of the legitimacy or otherwise of such reports. However, we are of the considered opinion that in view of the fear and insecurity generated by such allegations the Ghana Police Service ought to treat them with every seriousness and conduct investigations promptly and thoroughly to get to the bottom of these matters within the shortest possible time,” the statement stressed. The statement expressed the belief that as story was attributed to reporters, they would be in position to assist the police in their investigations by providing more details on the source of the information. The statement also requested that the police act with a lot more urgency than they had done with the recent arson and murders that particularly affected members of the NDC and other innocent persons in Gushiegu and Tamale in September this year. It recounted instances where the police had been unable to complete investigations into high profile criminal incidents and pointed out that those incidents had contributed to the impression that the police had severe limitations in their ability to combat crime. "We are of the view that their inability to investigate allegations of crime or the intention to commit crimes allows such criminal elements in the society to believe that they can get away with anything and contributes in no small way to the current culture of indiscipline and impunity." The statement said with regard to the implied allegations contained in an Accra daily of Monday, December 15, 2008 that persons associated with the NDC had threatened Pastor Mensa Otabil, "we wish to state that, we have no knowledge of any such threats made by any persons associated with the NDC and described them as false. It said the NDC had noted that previously, in the Daily Graphic of Saturday (December 13, 2003) there was a story attributed to Vans Azu on page 17 of the paper that hoodlums threatened Pastor Mensa Otabil’s life and that the good pastor had noted that everything was in the hands of God. The statement said the NDC had faith that the life of the good pastor was in the hands of God and the Good Lord would protect him. It took issue with the twist given to the story in the December 15, 2008 edition of the Accra Daily Guide implying that the alleged assassins were threatening to attack the good pastor because he did not support the political party to which they were affiliated. It expressed concerns with the way the paper went on to make categorical statements about the NDC to suggest in their readers' minds that those alleged hoodlums might have something to do with the NDC. The statement said the NDC was aware that several members of the party including some Members of Parliament were members of the International Central Gospel Church and accordingly respected him as a national religious leader. It said it also respected the positive influence of the churches and other religious bodies in society and would not support, instigate of condone any attack on any religious leaders. The statement said the NDC had taken a strong exception to any suggestions that the party was associated with an attack on Pastor Otabel’s person. Source: Daily Graphic