I, totally, condemn the demonstration and completely disassociate myself from the acts.

On the morning of the day the demonstration happened, I picked an intel that some youth were planning to disrupt a meeting of the Constituency Executives in my office. I quickly called the Constituency Deputy Communications officer, informed him about what I had heard and advised them not have the meeting in my office. 

I later heard that the youth were rather going to hold a press conference, so I again called the Municipal NIB Officer, to inform him about the planned press conference, and implored him to monitor the situation. I personally forwarded the telephone number of the leader of the youth group to the NIB Officer and asked him to call him.

Unfortunately, all my efforts at preventing the youth from taking the action failed, probably because of my physical absence. Indeed, I have been unwell for some time so I have been out of Effutu seeking medical attention in Accra, and also taking sometime off to rest.

I wish to reiterate that the responsibility to appoint individuals to high offices is the sole prerogative of the President, and I urge the youth in the Effutu constituency to be cautious about how they associate my name to such irresponsible and reckless acts.

We worked hard to bring the party into office, and I believe whatever decision the President or the party takes, is done in the good interest of the party and in the spirit of resetting our country, after eight years of backwardness under the NPP. I, hereby, express my utmost and unwavering support to the President and the NDC Party, and I am of the strong conviction that united we shall succeed.

Our responsibility as a party in the constituency is to come together and support the government to achieve the objectives set in the manifesto. 

I urge everyone to be measured in their expectations and to exercise maximum restraint. 

Signed

James Kofi Annan